The Commonwealth of Noratia is a huge, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, absence of drug laws, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, democratic population of 612 million Noratians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 36.5%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Noratian economy, worth 27.5 trillion Norats a year, is quite specialized and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Trout Farming, Soda Sales, and Uranium Mining. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 44,881 Norats, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

There have been reports of people marrying housepets, all tariffs have been abolished, attendance of fathers at PTA meetings is at an all-time high, and the slowest students feel vaguely targeted by their Mendelian Inheritance coursework. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Noratia's national animal is the Ferret, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Noratia is ranked 221,191^st in the world and 8,984^th in The North Pacific for Largest Furniture Restoration Industry, scoring -7.75 on the Spitz-Pollish Productivity Index.