The Queendom of Merken is a massive, genial nation, ruled by Delfina Linden with a fair hand, and notable for its smutty television, multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, and absence of drug laws. The compassionate, democratic population of 1.099 billion Merkenis are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The large, liberal, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Industry, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Obreina. The average income tax rate is 71.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Merkenian economy, worth 116 trillion credits a year, is quite specialized and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Cheese Exports. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 105,602 credits, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Hospitals have poor data security but send lots of bodies to be encrypted, RPG fans reminisce fondly about when people thought they were evil and dangerous rather than geeky and socially inept, military officials are questioning the policy of ceding the nation's territory in exchange for promises not to invade it, and students are wary of colorfully decorated new teachers with names like Professor Pipsqueak. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Merken's national animal is the caracal, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Merken is ranked 59,165^th in the world and 1,381^st in the South Pacific for Most Secular, with 20.84 Atheism Rate.