The Republic of Gordie LaChance is a huge, socially progressive nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. The hard-working population of 225 million Gordie LaChanceans have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 21.6%.

The Gordie LaChancean economy, worth 9.88 trillion dollars a year, is led by the Furniture Restoration industry, with major contributions from Soda Sales, Uranium Mining, and Pizza Delivery. Average income is 43,902 dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.2 times as much as the poorest.

TV shows must meet strict ethnicity quotas, surveillance cameras are banned, the country's famous rainforests are being bulldozed by the mining industry, and the government baselessly accuses foreign dignitaries of being assassins. Crime is moderate. Gordie LaChance's national animal is the leech, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to heavy metals seepage into national waterways.

Gordie LaChance is ranked 186,878^th in the world and 21^st in Stand By Me for Safest, scoring 50.55 on the Bubble-Rapp Safety Rating.