The Federal Republic of Great Schwanien is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Schwani with an even hand, and notable for its smutty television, pith helmet sales, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate population of 1.797 billion Great Schwanier enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Nexara. The average income tax rate is 82.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Great Schwanish economy, worth 161 trillion Schwani Dollars a year, is highly specialized and mostly made up of the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 89,857 Schwani Dollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

A rolling news ticker tape of disclaimers runs across the bottom of the screen on all TV shows, protestors are soaking piles of Schwani Dollars in blood to make a point about government incomes, female newsreaders distract the nation by breastfeeding during broadcast, and military equipment is being auctioned off to extend comatose centenarians' lives. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Great Schwanien's national animal is the swan, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Science.

Great Schwanien is ranked 248,006^th in the world and 1,180^th in Europe for Most Patriotic, with 3.66 flags saluted per person per day.