The Most Excellent Empire of Picairn is a colossal, socially progressive nation, ruled by Emperor Menellia I with a fair hand, and renowned for its daily referendums, keen interest in outer space, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 9.07 billion Picairnians 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 medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Stormridge. The average income tax rate is 98.2%.

The frighteningly efficient Picairnian economy, worth a remarkable 2,329 trillion Dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Tourism, and Arms Manufacturing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an amazing 256,850 Dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Cotton candy made from genuine cotton cellulose doesn't quite satisfy, Emperor Menellia I steals from the rich and gives to the needy, Stormridge is a police state during international summits, and the mining industry is making inroads into environmentally sensitive areas. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Picairn's national animal is the Phoenix, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Secularism.

Picairn is ranked 3,995^th in the world and 211^th in The North Pacific for Nicest Citizens, with 53.38 average smiles per day.