The Republic of Thorn223 is a mammoth, orderly nation, remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, aversion to nipples, and disturbing lack of elderly people. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless, devout population of 8.252 billion Thorn223ians 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 medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Industry. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 42.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Thorn223ian economy, worth a remarkable 1,149 trillion francs a year, is fairly diversified and dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Woodchip Exports, Uranium Mining, and Furniture Restoration. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 139,276 francs, with the richest citizens earning 8.2 times as much as the poorest.

The government seizes corporate assets it deems 'scary enough', family trees become bare as entire branches are lopped off, legislators toe the party line lest the Sergeant-at-Arms decide to conduct "truncheon practice" on the backbench, and soldiers who shoot themselves in the foot are regarded as heroes. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Thorn223's national animal is the elephant, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Thorn223 is ranked 79,434^th in the world and 1^st in Cocoabo Forest for Most Extensive Public Healthcare, scoring 2,316.32 on the Theresa-Nightingale Rating.