The Republic of Western Edustadiving is a colossal, cultured nation, renowned for its keen interest in outer space, absence of drug laws, and compulsory gun ownership. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 5.209 billion Western Edustadivingians 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 Law & Order, Defense, and Industry. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 39.6%.

The frighteningly efficient Western Edustadivingian economy, worth 620 trillion francs a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Beef-Based Agriculture, and Information Technology. Black market activity is rampant. Average income is an impressive 119,155 francs, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 337,300 per year while the poor average 33,658, a ratio of 10.0 to 1.

Airplane passengers have been known to stuff pillows in their jackets to get extra arm room, citizens are arrested for naturally producing proteins, the government mails weekly updates on the new anti-junk mail laws to every citizen, and diplomatic missions typically end with a flurry of childish insults, accusations and phlegm. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Western Edustadiving's national animal is the kangaroo, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Western Edustadiving is ranked 47,638^th in the world and 2,930^th in Balder for Lowest Crime Rates, with 74.88 law-abiding acts per hour.