The Republic of Zarlan is a very large, efficient nation, renowned for its daily referendums, irreverence towards religion, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate population of 259 million Zarlanians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 39.3%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The very strong Zarlanian economy, worth 19.5 trillion Zaris a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Trout Farming industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Cheese Exports. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 75,132 Zaris, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Bouncers at the door of the sweet shop warn five-year-olds not to cause trouble, sullen teenagers in bright orange 'community payback' onesies can be seen picking litter at the roadside, the government's fruit business reeks of rotting produce and corruption, and roads are often attended by round-the-clock construction crews. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zarlan's national animal is the leopard, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Zarlan is ranked 231,400^th in the world and 1,836^th in the West Pacific for Highest Foreign Aid Spending, scoring -3.16 on the Clooney Contribution Index.