The Democratic Republic of Sharold is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, renowned for its museums and concert halls, multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, democratic population of 13.203 billion Carols enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Careold. The average income tax rate is 91.9%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Carold economy, worth a remarkable 1,328 trillion Hugs and Chewed Pencils a year, is highly specialized and mostly made up of the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 100,618 Hugs and Chewed Pencils, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Access to the woods is only granted to those who bring a small shrubbery, party-lovers often change religions just for the weekend, the Sharold Mental Asylum Party have recently won seats in parliament, and crackheads chase drug-loaded drones in hopes of a lucky drop. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Sharold's national animal is the Snail, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Sharold is ranked 137,302^nd in the world and 2,789^th in the South Pacific for Largest Publishing Industry, scoring 2,044.05 on the Bella Potter Productivity e-Index.