The Republic of Sandshrew IX is a mammoth, orderly nation, remarkable for its burgeoning sandshrew population. The hard-working, cynical population of 7.793 billion Sandshrew IXians are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The relatively small, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 10.2%.

The Sandshrew IXian economy, worth 319 trillion guilders a year, is led by the Cheese Exports industry, with major contributions from Soda Sales, Retail, and Door-to-door Insurance Sales. Average income is 40,943 guilders, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.7 times as much as the poorest.

Passive-aggressive congratulations cards inform mums-to-be that their pregnancy is their greatest achievement in life, Max Barry is this year's Miss Sandshrew IX, Leader has been self-declared as the Most Supreme Magnificent Overlord of Everything You Ever Saw, and the government has adopted a more thrifty attitude to administrating the country's needs. Crime is moderate. Sandshrew IX's national animal is the sandshrew, which can occasionally be seen sifting through garbage in the nation's cities.

Sandshrew IX is ranked 201,621^st in the world and 6^th in Sandshrew for Largest Welfare Programs, scoring 862.61 on the Safety Net Mesh Density Rating.