The Republic of TEP256 is a massive, genial nation, renowned for its zero percent divorce rate, ritual sacrifices, and disturbing lack of elderly people. The compassionate, cynical, devout population of 1.375 billion TEP256ians are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The large, corrupt, moralistic, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Industry. The average income tax rate is 69.5%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient TEP256ian economy, worth 141 trillion pounds a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Cheese Exports. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 103,002 pounds, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.9 times as much as the poorest.

The TEP256 City Prison Revue puts on a better stage show than anything in the Theatre District, builders across TEP256 are blocked up with orders for new public loos, only the rich can afford the latest medical innovations, and military pistols are more secure than the national treasury. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. TEP256's national animal is the kiwi, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

TEP256 is ranked 45,011^th in the world and 180^th in Pablo for Highest Unexpected Death Rate, scoring 98.82 on the Bus Surprisal Index.