The Rogue Nation of Merry Band of Pirates is a colossal, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Colonel Joe with a fair hand, and notable for its teetotalling pirates, anti-smoking policies, and irreverence towards religion. The hard-nosed, democratic population of 9.255 billion Aloneans enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Healthcare, Welfare, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Flying Dutchman. The average income tax rate is 35.9%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Alonean economy, worth 415 trillion Bananas a year, is led by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Woodchip Exports, and Furniture Restoration. Black market activity is frequent. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 44,919 Bananas, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The nation's most "productive" diamond mine hasn't been operational for seven months, every school is receiving a brand new eraser, elevator music has been replaced by thrash metal played at maximum volume, and rugby players that knock each other over always stop to make sure the other fellow is okay. Crime is totally unknown. Merry Band of Pirates's national animal is the Monkey, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Cooperation.

Merry Band of Pirates is ranked 229,355^th in the world and 13^th in Dawn for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 48.04 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.