Georgeland
The United Islands of Georgeland | |
|---|---|
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Motto: 'Divisus mari - unitus corde' 'Divided by sea, united in spirit' | |
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Anthem: 'My Country' | |
 | |
| Capital | Topstad |
| Largest metropolitan area | Doubledance |
| Recognised national languages | English |
| Religion |
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| Demonym(s) |
Georgeland |
| Government | Federal parliamentary republic |
| Kenny Kirk | |
| Tom Elderton | |
| Legislature | Parliament of Georgeland |
| Georgeland Senate | |
| Georgeland House of Commons | |
| Independence from the United Kingdom | |
• Self-government | 1 July 1891 |
• Republic | 1 July 1929 |
| Area | |
• Total | 673,968.15 km2 (260,220.56 sq mi) (40th) |
| Population | |
• 2023 estimate | 37,458,000 (39th) |
• 2022 census | 37,194,236 (39th) |
• Density | 55.187/km2 (142.9/sq mi) (165th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $1.46 trillion (26th) |
• Per capita | $66,217 (17th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $1.653 trillion (15th) |
• Per capita | $67,296 (10th) |
| Gini (2021) |
 .651low · 164th |
| HDI (2023) |
 0.943very high · 9th |
| Currency | Georgeland dollar (GDR) |
| Time zone |
UTC+5 to +6 (GSET GSWT) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +55 |
| ISO 3166 code | UI |
| Internet TLD | .ui |
The United Islands of Georgeland is a sovereign country comprising an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, including five large islands and multiple smaller islands. The Georgeland archipelago includes the largest island in the Indian Ocean, Mainland, and the islands consist of the most populated country, and second-largest by area, with no land borders. An ecologically diverse country, Georgeland has a high elevation and a rugged environment, with one of the lowest soil fertility rates in the world and a mountainous interior.
Georgeland is known to have been inhabited, at least in some coastal regions, by an Austronesian people until around the 4th century CE. It had become uninhabited by the time of the archipelago's discovery by maritime explorers, with the earliest recorded charting by Ming Chinese vessels in the 15th century. After Dutch and English navigators charted the northern coast the islands became of strategic interest, and after an expedition by Spanish navigator Juan Delmago in 1760 successfully charted the Mainland coastline, the British colonised the islands in 1773 and named them for Delmago's employer, King George III. Sparsely-populated for much of its colonisation, a population boom began in the mid-19th century with the discovery of gold and more reliable shipping methods. In 1891 the islands were given self-government as part of the British Empire; the country became a republic in 1929 following a referendum, and in doing so became the first part of the British Empire to peacefully secede from British rule.
Georgeland is a federal parliamentary republic comprising six states, two self-administered territories, and several external possessions. Its population is highly urbanised, and the country has a high population density. Slightly below half of its roughly 37 million people reside on the island of Mainland. The country's capital city is Topstad, on the island of Capitalia. Other major cities include Doubledance (the country's largest), Santa Christina (the largest metropolitan area), Emilypolis, New Kikipolis, Sergiocitta, Lylecity, Romphumburg, Huzzah, Stratton, Zigit and Dannyburg. Georgeland is a highly multicultural country - while the majority of residents are of Anglo-European descent, there are significant minorities of South Asian, African and Arab people due to large-scale immigration in the 20th and 21st centuries. Georgeland's economy is based around maritime industries, mining, agriculture and manufacturing, with its largest trading partner being India. Georgeland has consistently ranked highly in quality of life, democratic freedoms and civil liberties.
Georgeland is a member of the United Nations, the G20, the World Economic Forum and the OECD. Until 2020, it was also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. A regional power, Georgeland has for most of its history been considered a neutral country, though recent years have seen increasing ties with the United States and United Kingdom.
Etymology
The first maps to give a name to the Georgeland islands were those by Dutch explorers. A map from a Dutch expedition included the northern coastlines of Bradmarch and Scoita, conjecturing them to be a single land mass, and labelled vastland, or vasteland, probably derived from the Dutch word for 'continent'. Following Delmago's expedition of 1767, the islands were named by the explorer as King George's Land for George III, who had financed his voyage. The name George's Land had become shortened in parlance to Georgeland as early as 1790. The first official map of the entire archipelago, dated from 1794, used the name George Land (George Land). By 1810, the single word had become standard.
Officially known as the United Islands of Georgeland, rarely some institutions use the name United Islands in the same way as the United States of America is often referred to as the United States. This usage is uncommon, however; the most notable user is the United Islands Defence Force. The United Islands name was adopted in 1929 in homage to both the United States and the United Kingdom.
History
Archaeological evidence demonstrates Georgeland was inhabited prior to British settlement. In the first decade after Europeans arrived, settlers and explorers found caves and burial sites, and later tools, weapons and evidence of agriculture. Almost all the areas thought to have been populated are coastal; every island except Delmago Island is believed to have been home to Georgeland's original indigenous people, collectively referred to as the Ogi (Original Georgeland Inhabitants). Ogi artefacts found later included shell jewelry and pottery fragments.
DNA evidence, conducted in the 1990s, showed that Ogi people shares a common lineage with other Austronesians, including the Merina of Madagascar, the Moken of Myanmar and Thailand, and Australian Aborigines. Anthropological research has shown Ogi were likely to have shared similar cultural practices with these groups, and a similar appearance. In 2015, evidence of trade was found at a site in northern Scoita, consisting of shards of pottery from southern India and Sri Lanka.
The eventual fate of the Ogi is uncertain. No artefacts have been found dating any later than the 4th century CE, and it is clear from all records that there were no surviving Ogi peoples when Europeans landed. Given Georgeland's rugged terrain, lack of arable land, and proneness to monsoons and other weather events, most researchers agree the most likely explanation is that the Ogi were unable to sustain themselves and died out. A study by Dean Francis Gables of the University of Topstad posited, in 1986, that the Ogi may have migrated and intermixed with other Austronesian peoples. Evidence has also been found of large-scale extinction events, including a tsunami that likely struck the eastern coastal areas around 10,000 years ago, which may have had an effect on Ogi population patterns.
Civilizations of the Indian Ocean region either were unaware of the islands or their extent until at least the 15th century. Ming Chinese explorers charted northern Bradmarch and Scoita at least as early as 1470, and at least the northern islands may have been known to Sangama explorers from southern India and Sri Lanka. One map compiled by a Portuguese cartographer around 1500 includes a "South Ceylon" but this was likely in error, as Georgeland was too far south to have been realistically reached by Portuguese vessels. During his circumnavigation of the globe, Englishman Sir Francis Drake, around April of 1580, failed to sight the islands, likely being too far north or due to poor weather.
The first European to verifiably chart the Georgeland islands was Dutchman Abel Tasman in 1642, who believed them to be part of the East Indies. Unable to secure a harbour, and seeing no obvious value in them, the islands were included on Dutch charts but little interest was shown in them until the following century. In 1758, Spaniard Juan Delmago approached King Ferdinand VI of Spain with a proposal to chart and claim the islands, which he nicknamed Las Fernando after the king, as a counter to growing British interests in the region. Ferdinand, however, died shortly afterwards. Delmago repeated the request to the new monarch, Charles III, who rebuffed him. After failing to elicit any support from Portugal's Joseph I, or Louis XIV of France, Delmago finally approached George III of Britain who agreed to finance an expedition. Delmago, aboard Santa Cristina, arrived at the islands on 16 October 1767. Delmago made landfall on what is now Delmago Island (originally called Caroline's Island) at Landing Point, and remained for three weeks building a base from which to explore on subsequent expeditions. Arriving in London in May 1768, Delmago planned a returning voyage, but died a month later.
British settlement of the islands began in 1773, with the initial intention of using them as a stopover between India and Australia. The hazardous journey made this impractical, but the islands remained strategically valuable as a naval base, and as a trading post with close access to the lucrative markets of India and South East Asia. The earliest permanent settlement was at modern-day Lylecity on the southern coast of the Bay of Lyle, which would become named for explorer Joseph Lyle, whose expeditions of 1774 and 1775 charted much of the archipelago. James Cook also conducted exploratory missions around the islands. Rugged, somewhat unforgiving, arid and difficult to reach, the Georgeland islands remained sparsely-populated until the early 1800s. With Australia much further to travel, and populated with British convicts, free settlers opted for Georgeland and by 1812 the colony was flourishing. As shipping, transportation and communications methods evolved, more settlers arrived; the discovery of gold in Scoita (1844) and Mainland (1850) brought waves of new settlers including those from China, India and Africa. As the colony grew it became more and more independent from Britain, with limited self-government granted in 1836 and autonomy in 1873.
In 1891 Georgeland was granted self-governing status by Queen Victoria, the second British overseas possession to become a self-governing part of the Empire (behind Canada). Sir Robert Pearce became the first prime minister and the Earl of Lucan the first Governor-General. The first national capital was established at Weston. Pearce's government established many of the country's national institutions including the Supreme Court, the Bank of Georgeland, and the Royal Georgeland Navy. In 1911 the capital moved to Topstad to reduce the dominance of Mainland on national policy. As part of the British Empire, Georgeland was a participant in World War I, with Georgeland troops seeing action in France and the Middle East. Participation in the war, particularly after the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland, led to increased nationalistic sentiment, especially on behalf of the growing Irish immigrant population.
Following the war, Georgeland began to exert more influence in Imperial affairs and in 1926 was conferred Dominion Status at the Imperial Conference of that year. The growing nationalist sentiment led to a referendum in 1928 on the monarchy, which resulted in a narrow vote in favour of the country becoming a republic. Georgeland became a republic on 1 July 1929, now celebrated as Republic Day, with businessman and philanthropist Victor Martin elected as the country's first president that year. Until 2020, Georgeland remained an active member of the Commonwealth.
Badly hit by the Great Depression, Georgeland's economy was stagnant in the 1930s but recovered by World War II. Initially reluctant to fight due to the war's distance and a more independent foreign policy, the Georgeland government of wartime leader Fenton Thomas declared war on Germany and Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces in December 1941. Georgeland troops fought as part of the Allies in the Pacific and in North Africa, with the bulk of the war fought against Japan alongside the United States. Following the war's conclusion, Georgeland became a founding member of the United Nations and adopted a more internationalist foreign policy, strengthening ties with newly-independent nations in Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
A brief socialist administration from 1954-58 led by Nathan Keegan was the only brief interruption to a 22-year period of Conservative rule from after the war until the 1970s. This period was marked by strong economic growth but a resistance to growing social movements. In 1958 constitutional reforms included changing the presidency from an elected to an appointed office and the codifying of conventions such as government by cabinet. In 1970, a reformist government under Victor Howard was elected which modernised aspects of society and economy and marked the beginning of a long period of mostly left-wing rule, including decriminalisation of homosexuality, abolition of the death penalty, and establishment of national infrastructure. By 1988 Georgeland's economy had become one of the strongest in the region and the country had begun to be seen as a middle power. This period also saw greater immigration and the affirming of a national commitment to multiculturalism.
Georgeland's economic prosperity continued in the 1990s, coupled with further social reforms under the government of Charlton Robards, elected in 1995 at the age of 32, one of the youngest heads of government in the world. The Robards government standardised legal abortion and same-sex marriage, as well as repealing or relaxing laws regarding foreign businesses and investors. This period was also marked by political instability with the collapse of the Labour Party and repeated elections. In 1999 Susan O'Byrne was chosen by parliament as the country's first woman president. Later that year the country was drawn into the India-Pakistan conflict when Pakistani forces seized the overseas territory of Corbana close to Sri Lanka, and the island was a flashpoint for the conflict until resolved in 2001, with minimal loss of life but significant domestic and international political fallout. In 2000, the state of Mainland was divided into two, East and West Mainland, after decades of agitation by those on the island's east for self-government. Another round of constitutional reforms followed in the early 2000s which the elected presidency was restored and the parliamentary term shortened but with fixed election dates.
Zoe Parker was elected the country's first woman prime minister in 2005, followed in 2007 by the first elected conservative government since 1995 under Luke Macaulay. In 2008 Lois Daniels of the centrist third party Georgeland Alliance was elected president, signaling a move away from the traditional two-party structure of politics. In 2010, Lawrence Porter of the Liberal Democrats became the country's first black prime minister. The 2010s saw a realignment of politics and closer ties with the European Union and the United States, though the latter suffered with the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president. With the Syrian Civil War, Georgeland became subject to a refugee crisis as thousands fleeing the Middle East sought asylum in Georgeland, to which successive governments proposed various solutions but which created challenges to the established political order.
In 2017, Robards was selected to become President of Georgeland under controversial circumstances which contributed to a new political dynamic as the Alliance under Tom Elderton was elected to government for the first time in 2019. In 2021 electoral reforms were passed instituting a system of proportional representation. Also in that year, following a consultative referendum, Georgeland withdrew from the Commonwealth. The effects of climate change became more evident in the archipelago with severe forest fires, flooding and monsoons affecting the islands in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
Geography
An archipelago in the Indian Ocean, Georgeland proper consists of a total of 37 islands, only nine of which are permanently inhabited. The entire archipelago is approximately 1500km from north to south and 1700 from east to west. The largest island, Mainland, is a horseshoe-shaped land mass approximately 600km long and 200km wide. The Bay of Lyle, a land mass of shallow water, forms the northern coastline of Mainland and contains Delmago Island and a number of smaller, barren islands. Mainland is a rugged, hilly island featuring two long mountain ranges curving along the centres of each half, the Caltrops and the Verranese Mountains, with a much larger, more forbidding range, the Barrett Mountains, dominating much of its north-west. The highest point in the archipelago, Mount Bathurst, sits in this region.
The other four main islands sit between 100 and 200km from Mainland. The largest, Scoita, is 135 miles from Mainland's north-west tip. At the centre of Scoita is Lough Neagh, named for the large lake in Northern Ireland, the largest lake in Georgeland and on which Emily's Island, and the city of Emilypolis, is built. Scoita is comparatively flat in comparison to others in the archipelago, consisting of arid plains and long, winding rivers. The third-largest island, Capitalia (also known as New Ireland) is 104 kilometers from Mainland's south-western tip, dominated by bisecting rivers, the Callender and the Pascoe. Capitalia also contains more lakes than other islands, including the second, third and fourth-largest Georgeland lakes, Lake Gollan, Lake Christian, and Lake Sharman. Long Island, at the country's south-east, is heavily forested and noted for particularly high elevations, with wide, deep cliffs surrounding much of it and dominated by the Airedale Mountains which run east-to-west through its centre. The smallest of the main five islands, Bradmarch, is similarly rugged and prone to strong winds, creating a much more barren environment than other islands.
The geographical centre of Georgeland is close to Delmago Island, lying at 16°09'13.9"S 84°19'38.3"E. The country's far north is largely subtropical, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The remainder of the country, especially southern Mainland, Long Island and Capitalia, is more temperate. Georgeland has significant wind chill which can result in cooler temperatures despite its latitude, in combination with Indian ocean air currents. Those same currents also create particularly severe storms during wetter seasons, including monsoons which can be a hazard to both shipping and coastal areas.
Georgeland's closest sovereign neighbour is the Seychelles; other immediate neighbours include Australia, Mauritius and the Maldives. The British Indian Ocean Territory and Diego Garcia is the closest international land, only 154 km from Scoita, while the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian possession, are 312 km from Bradmarch.
Climate
With strong influence from the Indian Ocean Dipole and southern weather patterns, Georgeland's climate can be highly variable. The northern areas, particularly Scoita and Bradmarch, are generally subtropical while Mainland, Capitalia and Long Island are more temperate. The lower islands are generally considered to have an oceanic climate, while Mainland varies by season, with a cold, dry winter and humid summers. Rainfall in Georgeland is concentrated around the summer months, at which time air currents often bring tropical weather to the north, with monsoons relatively common by world standards. Wind chill significantly reduces temperatures in some parts of the archipelago.
Since 1960, climate change has caused temperatures in Georgeland to rise an average of 1°C, which has caused adverse weather and climactic effects, including periods of severe flooding. In 2023, Georgeland had its warmest year on record; the highest temperature recorded in Georgeland was in Bradmarch in 2016, when temperatures reached 45°C. The cooler weather in the south has been affected by higher rainfall and winds, as well as by flooding and coastal erosion.
Geology and oceanography
Located on the western edge of the Indo-Australian tectonic plate, Georgeland is prone to mild seismic activity, but has no active volcanos. It has an average tectonic crust thickness of 41.6 km, and sits comparatively high, averaging 412 km above sea level. Much of the coastline of the larger islands consists of cliffs and rock strata. Georgeland is believed to have formed from breakaway sections of Gondwana around 150 million years ago, and channels between the islands became deeper seas as the sea level rose. Containing most rock types, Georgeland is mostly igneous and sedimentary. Georgeland is predicted to collide with the Indian Subcontinent in approximately 53 million years, moving north at roughly 6 cm per year.
Biodiversity, flora and fauna
As an isolated archipelago, Georgeland has a unique biota and is home to many unique species of flora and fauna, as well as many introduced species and relatives of foreign species. Approximately 50% of avian, reptilian and piscene species are endemic to Georgeland, while mammalian species are mostly introduced as the lack of significant food sources prior to colonisation likely inhibited their development. Georgeland is home to the only extant species of monotreme outside Australia and New Guinea, the Western Anteater, and several other species that while endemic are closely-related to those in Australia, Indonesia, India and East Africa. Georgeland has more than 100,000 identified types of fungus, many of which provide food sources for insects, of which there are more than 30,000 varieties, and subterranean mammals including more than 100 species not identified in other regions. Georgeland's unique geography has let to slight variations in subspecies across its islands. Georgeland is the only major land mass on Earth not known to have been home to any megafauna. Contrary to its neighbours, Georgeland has relatively few species of fauna considered deadly or dangerous to humans.
Georgeland's native forests are predominantly evergreen, with the cooler and wetter regions having an abundance of native oak, while native acacia and wattles are more common in the more arid areas. Georgeland's natural forests are comparatively light outside the more tropical regions, with estimates that approximately 60% of Georgeland plant life was introduced by colonisation. Conversely to its lack of dangerous fauna, more than 1000 varieties of plant life endemic to Georgeland have some level of toxicity.
Widespread destruction of native environments has led to the threatening of more than 200 animal species and more than 1000 plant species, and more than 3000 species once found in Georgeland are now extinct, largely due to human habitation. Recent attempts by governments to mitigate extinctions and protect native biodiversity have been noted for their success, and the country has one of the most restrictive biosecurity regimes in the world.
Government and politics
Georgeland is a parliamentary republic and a federation of states. Described as a "full democracy", Georgeland has maintained a stable, liberal democratic system since 1891 under its constitution, which is one of the oldest continuing constitutions in the world. The majority of Georgeland's governmental traditions and practices are derived from those of the United Kingdom, though some have evolved a unique character and local variation over time.
Since 1929, the President of Georgeland has been head of state, elected for a four year term by universal suffrage. The president has a mostly ceremonial role, though recent presidents have exerted indirect influence over government. Based on the Westminster System, Georgeland's bicameral parliament is the legislative branch of its government.
The Prime Minister of Georgeland is head of government, exercising power through the Cabinet. The Prime Minister and all members of their government are members of, and responsible to, the parliament; the 300-member House of Commons, or the 78-member Senate. Members of the House of Commons are elected by a d'Hondt count form of proportional representation, with most members one of five representing their large geographical district. Senators are elected by Single Transferable Vote and represent each state. The House of Commons is elected for a three-year term, normally on the first Friday in August of an election year. Senators serve a six-year term, beginning on 1 January.
A federation, Georgeland consists of six states and two territories. The states of Bradmarch, Capitalia, Long Island and Scoita consist of the islands of the same name, while the large island of Mainland is divided into East Mainland and West Mainland. The Federal District, containing the capital city of Topstad, is a self-governing territory under the nominal jurisdiction of the federal government, as is the small island of Delmago Island in the Bay of Lyle. Delmago Island was a state in its own right from 1958 until 2021, when it reverted to being a territory. Each state government operates its in a similar fashion to the federal government, with executive power held by a state Governor and exercised by an elected parliamentary government. Each state differs slightly in its governmental structure and constitution. State parliaments are unicameral, though all are now elected by a proportional electoral system.
Historically, Georgeland politics has been dominated by two parties, the right-of-centre Conservative Party and a left-of-centre party. Originally, this left-wing party was the Labour Party. The Labour Party collapsed in the early 2000s, and the left-of-centre position subsequently held by other groups including the Liberal Democrats and Vox. At the last election, held in August 2023, no party won more than 30% of the vote. The centrist Georgeland Reform Alliance, led by prime minister Tom Elderton, won a plurality of seats to form a minority government, while the leftist group Vox formed the Official Opposition.
The country's highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court of Georgeland, with a bench consisting of one Chief Justice and seven Associate Justices. Below the Supreme Court exists a national Court of Appeal and the various lower courts, including eight state and territory Supreme Courts.
States and territories
Georgeland is a federation of six states - Bradmarch (BRA), Capitalia (CAP), East Mainland (EM), Long Island (LI), Scoita (SCO) and West Mainland (WM). There are two autonomous territories - Delmago Island (DI) and the Federal District (FD). Territories have many similar properties to states and are largely self-governing, but the federal government can override decisions of their governments (under certain circumstances). Until 2000, each island in the archipelago was a state in its own right - in that year Mainland was subdivided into two, creating the states of East Mainland and West Mainland. From 1958 to 2021, Delmago Island was itself a state, but reverted to being a territory after a referendum.
State governments have plenary power on many issues, specifically, all areas other than those directly under the constitutional jurisdiction of the federal government. State parliaments legislate on, for example, education, healthcare, police, emergency services, local government, urban planning and development, transportation (other than airports and shipping) and energy. Often, states will voluntarily delegate power to the federal government, or enter into binding agreements on other areas, allowing considerable cross-over between state and federal powers. When there is a conflict between federal and state law, federal law generally prevails (though there have been exceptions).
Each state and territory has a parliament and elected government similar to the federal structure. States have a Governor, who functions as the nominal, but ceremonial, chief executive, and a Chief Minister who is head of government. State Governors are elected positions in all states except West Mainland, where the Governor is chosen by the parliament. All the state parliaments are unicameral; only Scoita has ever had an upper house, and it was abolished in 1907. All the state parliaments now use a proportional electoral system. Territory government is very similar in structure, but territories have no Governors, instead being administered by the federal Minister for Territories. In Delmago Island the head of government is also the Chief Minister, but the title 'Head of Government' is used in the Federal District, whose executive members are called commissioners instead of ministers.
The federal government also administers Corbana, the Fortunate Islands, Penguin Island and the Georgeland Antarctic Territory. This last territory is claimed by Georgeland but, like other Antarctic claims, not recognised internationally.
Foreign relations
Until the latter 20th century, Georgeland was mostly neutral in its diplomatic relations, although it was generally considered closer to the United States sphere than that of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, to the point the Kremlin considered Georgeland an American ally. In recent years, Georgeland has pursued closer relations with Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and mainland China. Georgeland is considered a regional power and a middle power internationally. It was a founder member of the United Nations in 1945, and has been part of major international bodies including the ASEAN mechanism and the Commonwealth of Nations, from which it withdrew in 2021. From 1959 to 1972, Georgeland was a member of the South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO). It had observer status in the Non-Aligned Movement from 1961 to 1964 and again from 1975 to 1990.
Since the 1980s, Georgeland has pursued regional security arrangements with neighbours and global powers, while for the most part avoiding large-scale military agreements with the United States. It is a member of the Indian Ocean Security Pact with India and Australia, the Southern Asia Intelligence Organisation with India, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and Malaysia, and has participated in the Six Eyes intelligence-sharing program since the 1960s, although the extent to which it has shared intelligence with other Six Eyes nations has varied. Since 2009 it has been an observer in the African Union, and signed the African Union-Georgeland Security Understanding (AUGSU) in 2016.
A long-term commitment to free trade has led to Georgeland's membership of multiple international free trade alliances including the Cairns Group, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the World Trade Organization. It has established bilateral free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand (1963), the United Kingdom (1971), India (1978), Japan (1982), South Korea (1987), the United Arab Emirates (1993), Indonesia (1999), Malaysia (2003), Singapore (2012) and Saudi Arabia (2017), and a multilateral agreement with the European Union (2002). Georgeland's participation in trade liberalisation is considered one of the country's main diplomatic focuses, and successive governments have maintained this focus. Since 2020, a free trade agreement with the People's Republic of China has been in negotiation.
Georgeland has bilateral diplomatic relations with every member of the United Nations, although at present relations with Afghanistan , Yemen and Syria are suspended. It maintains informal diplomatic contact with the Republic of China (Taiwan) but does not recognize Taiwan over the People's Republic of China, switching its recognition in 1973. Georgeland also recognizes the State of Palestine.
Military
Georgeland's armed forces are the United Islands Defence Force (UIDF), comprising the Georgeland Army, United Islands Navy, (UIN) and United Islands Air Force (UIAF) As of 2023, there were a total of 97,753 UIDF personnel, including 65,386 regulars and 32,367 reservists. The President of Georgeland is the nominal Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces; all military operations require the president's approval, though day-to-day operations and many combat deployments are delegated to the Minister for Defence and the General Defence Staff. The General Defence Staff comprises the most senior officers of each service as well as a Chief and Deputy Chief; these last two officers are the only ones to hold four-star military rank.
In the 2023-24 budget, Georgeland's defence expenditure was 1.8% of GDP; it has the 14th-highest military budget in the world.
Human rights
Human rights organisations have consistently ranked Georgeland as one of the most advanced and developed nations in terms of discrimination and human rights. The country is particularly acknowledged for its adoption of LGBT rights legislation, being the third country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. The country has had racial discrimination legislation since the 1960s and legally protected rights for women and people with disabilities since the 1970s and 1980s respectfully.
Economy
Georgeland has a mixed-market economy based on fishing, trade and manufacturing, with economic diversification being a priority for recent governments. It is the world's 15th-largest economy in nominal terms and the 10th in per capita terms. In 2022, Georgeland's unemployment rate reached a 14-year high, peaking at 5.7% before lowering in early 2023. Estimates by the Institute for Social Policy Development in 2021 showed 10.1% of Georgelanders living in poverty, an increase of 2% in real terms since 2000. The Georgeland Dollar is the national currency.
In 2022-23 Georgeland had a government debt of appproximately $752 billion, equating to 51% of its GDP. Household debt was moderate, 45th in the world during the same period, a state of affairs brought about by a strong welfare state. 62% of Georgeland's GDP comes from the service sector, with manufacturing and industry making up another 17% and agriculture only 3%. While it has historically pursued a policy of self-sufficiency, Georgeland is now the Xth largest importer of goods and 25th largest exporter, with its largest trading partners being India, China and Australia.
Ranked 9th in the worldwide Human Development Index in 2022, Georgeland has a high standard of living although this is matched by a similar high cost of living, with property and food being among the more expensive commodities. Georgeland has historically ranked high in economic freedoms, but it is only in recent decades that economic restructuring and liberalisation has had a significant effect. A protectionist and highly-regulated economy for much of its existence, recent government liberalisation has met with some success, especially in matters of trade, exports and tariffs.
In 2019, Georgeland attracted 8.4 million international tourists, with tourism accounting for roughly 5% of its GDP.
Demographics
Georgeland has a population density of around 55 people per square kilometer, with around 37.5 million inhabitants across the archipelago. Highly urbanised, 85% of Georgeland's population live in a "significant city" of more than 50,000 people, with just under half living on the island of Mainland.
| Rank | State or territory | Pop. | Rank | State or territory | Pop. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doubledance | EM | 6,200,143 | 11 | Lylecity | EM | 301,269 | ||
| 2 | Santa Christina | WM | 4,321,407 | 12 | Hatton | EM | 145,806 | ||
| 3 | Emilypolis | SCO | 3,228,636 | 13 | Chipwich | WM | 110,112 | ||
| 4 | New Kikipolis | CAP | 2,541,236 | 14 | Usk | EM | 104,001 | ||
| 5 | Sergiocitta | BRA | 770,396 | 15 | Belfast | SCO | 102,695 | ||
| 6 | Huzzah | EM | 674,855 | 16 | Leicester | WM | 100,369 | ||
| 7 | Topstad | FD | 658,700 | 17 | Warwick | EM | 100,236 | ||
| 8 | Zigit | WM | 568,935 | 18 | York | WM | 98,932 | ||
| 9 | Dannyburg | LI | 498,442 | 19 | Stratton | BRA | 96,663 | ||
| 10 | Romphumburg | WM | 317,069 | 20 | Bootle | SCO | 87,902 | ||
Immigration and ethnicity
Due to a century of mass immigration, Georgeland is a highly multicultural country with a high population of first-and-second generation migrants. Originally, Georgeland drew the bulk of its migrant population from Europe, and laws specifically exempted "coloured" immigration, in various forms, until the 20th century. Since the end of World War II a high immigration rate from Africa and Asia has contributed to Georgeland's multi-ethnic character. In 2021, the largest foreign-born populations were born in India (3.6%), the United Kingdom (3.1%), Pakistan (2.3%), Sri Lanka (1.6%), Australia (1.2%) and Tanzania (0.6%).
Since 2017, ethnicity and race have been optional questions on the national census, meaning data about Georgeland's ethnic demography is likely to be inaccurate. At the 2022 census, 55% of respondents listed their ethnicity as 'white', 'Anglo-Saxon' or 'European', while 5% listed 'African' or a specific African tribal identity, 4% listed 'Indian', 3% 'Pakistani', 3% 'Arab' or 'Arabic', 3% 'Chinese', and another 8% 'Asian'. 19% failed to respond to the question.
Estimates from the National Centre for Multicultural Studies at the University of Long Island, in 2020, placed the approximate demographic breakdown as 74% white European, 9% South Asian, 5% East Asian and 5% Arab, with the remainder from one or more other identities.
Language
Georgeland has no official national language, however, English is considered the de facto national language and is spoken by almost all Georgelanders. Georgeland English is a distinct dialect that shares similarities with Hiberno-English, South African English and Australian English, and has a number of regional variations. According to the 2022 census, 71% of the population speak only English at home, and only 6% speak no English at all. The most common language apart from English to be spoken at home is Mandarin (2.3%), followed by Hindi (2.1%), Urdu (1.7%), Sinhalese (1.3%) and Bengali (1%).
Georgeland Sign Language, or GSL, has 105,328 registered users at home according to census data.
Religion
Georgeland is a secular nation and has no state religion. The federal constitution prohibits the establishment of a state religion and guarantees religious freedoms, for the most part. The largest religion in Georgeland is Christianity, with 42.6% reporting a Christian faith at the 2022 census. 21% of the population reported affiliation with the Anglican Church of Georgeland, while 17% identified as Catholic. Other Christian denominations with significant congregations in Georgeland include Presbytarianism and Baptism. Due to its immigration and multiculturalism, a large number of non-Christian faiths are practiced in Georgeland. The most common, according to census data, is Islam (7.3%) followed by Hinduism (3.7%) and Buddhism (2.1%). At the same census, 38% reported having 'no religion'.
Health
Georgeland has a universal healthcare system, introduced in 1949 as the National Health Service. The NHS is taxpayer-funded, primarily through the Health Services Levy, on top of regular income tax. Hospital bills and medical treatment costs in Georgeland have historically been among the lowest in the world, and quality of care was ranked 6th in the world by Doctors Without Borders in 2019. Georgeland's average life expectancy is 83.5 years (81 years for men, 86 for women), which in 2021 was the 6th-highest in the world. The leading cause of death among adults in 2021 was lung cancer through cigarette smoking. Georgeland's anti-smoking measures have nonetheless seen one of the highest drops in smoking rates over the last forty years. In 1982, 81% of Georgeland adults reported being casual or regular smokers. That figure was only 12.7% in 2021 and is expected to fall below 10% by 2026. This drop was achieved largely through public information campaigns, heavy taxation, regulation, and a series of consumer protection measures.
In 2022-23, Georgeland spent 10.2% of its GDP on its healthcare system. In addition to the public system, Georgeland permits private health insurance; 26% of Georgelanders hold private insurance. Private and public systems exist in tandem, and the private sector usually covers elective procedures or complex treatments for which the NHS has a waiting list. Georgeland had 1,104 public hospitals in 2021, and 284 public hospitals. Most health policy and hospital management is the purview of state governments, but there has been significant federal investment in health and a large number of federal health programs.
Education
Primary and secondary education in Georgeland is free and compulsory until age 16. There is a national network of public or state schools, and several parallel networks of private or religious schools, which are not subject to state control and permitted to charge fees, though they are regulated by various state governments. In 2021, there were 12,328 public primary and secondary schools in Georgeland, along with 1,366 independent schools and 741 religious schools. The majority of religious education is through the Catholic Church, though the Anglican and Methodist churches also operate several well-regarded schools.
Tertiary education is usually free in Georgeland, although since the early 2000s public universities have been permitted to charge fees in some states, usually to cover elective or specialised subjects. Georgeland has 59 public universities; the oldest, the University of Santa Christina, was founded in 1862 (the older University of Mainland was founded in 1860, but split into two campuses in 2020 and formally separated in 2016). Private universities were legalised in 2010; the first of these, Nash University in Huzzah, was established in 2013. Georgeland has six private universities, three locally-founded and three campuses of international universities (Carnegie Mellon, Notre Dame, and Bond). In 2022, census data recorded 50% of Georgeland adults possessed higher education credentials, one of the highest rates in the world. Georgeland attracted 754,000 international students for the 2021-22 term, primarily from China, India and the United States.
In the 2023 QS World University Rankings, four Georgeland universities ranked in the global top 50 academic institutions - the University of Santa Christina (12th), the University of Mainland East (18th), the University of Scoita (28th), and the University of Doubledance.
In addition to universities, there are 281 technical or vocational colleges in Georgeland. These institutions typically teach a trade and include apprenticeships and on-the-job training for specialist industries. All technical colleges are public institutions.
Georgeland has one of the highest literacy rates in the world, estimated at 99% in 2016.
Culture and society
Georgeland is a highly multicultural nation due to mass immigration. Historically dominated by an Anglo-Irish cultural blend, in recent decades influxes of migrants from East Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia have created a much less homogenous and more blended cultural mix. The similar but distinctive culture of Australia has also influenced that of Georgeland, and vice-versa; the countries share a language and many similar cultural traits, as well as significant differences.
Arts and literature
From colonisation, Georgeland art was influenced by existing European schools, and by the unfamiliar, rugged landscapes of the islands. In the 19th century a more distinctively Georgeland art movement emerged through the works of impressionist painters Francis Boulanger and Henry Albert, among others. In the early-to-mid 20th century Georgeland artists embraced modernism and often connected art to political beliefs, resulting in the striking, powerful works of artists like Victoria Tanner, Ian F. Fletcher and Mickey Bo, in what became known as the Denton School for the town in Mainland in which artists would congregate. In contemporary eras, Georgeland's visual arts have been influenced by its multiculturalism, and artists such as Ho Tranh and Cameron Yakusoni have challenged the art world with their interpretations of traditional work through the lens of their own background and cultures.
Similarly, while originating with settlers and their Anglo-Irish narrative and literary traditions, Georgeland literature became a more distinctive sub-genre in the mid-19th century as local idioms and cultural traits began to be depicted in mainstream works. Often telling of life in the harsh environment, the Survivalist genre became a staple of Georgeland literature, epitomised in the epic novel The Sea and the Sky by Charlotte Covey (who wrote under the pen name Charles Coyle), first published in 1874. In the 20th and 21st centuries literature has been influenced again by mutliculturalism and the distinctiveness of the environment, and many modern works of Georgeland literature reflect the melting pot of Georgeland society. Georgelanders to win the Booker Prize include Karen Doherty, Adam Vale and Gianna Costa-Zefferelli. John Charleston, who won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1970, remains Georgeland's only Nobel laureate to date.
Georgeland bestselling authors and public intellectuals with seminal works include George Campbell, Oleg Markov, Nancy Woolley-Smith and Trent Baxter-Cohen. More recently, an emerging migrant literary scene has seen authors such as Petunia Chao and Martin Ngunte develop into mainstream success both domestically and internationally. In 2021, feminist and activist Kelsey Bennetto was the first Georgelander to top the New York Times bestseller list for her memoir, Never Again, Never Again.
Media
Due to its remoteness and the difficulty of importing foreign media in the early 20th century, Georgeland has a strong tradition of local media. Georgeland's film industry underwent a boom in the 1930s but slumped until the 1990s, when increased funding for local filmmakers brought about a cinematic renaissance. Early films often concentrated on the harshness of life in the post-colonial period and the social and sectarian schisms of the period, while later films have often explored themes of personal identity and philosophical questions. In recent years, Georgeland has seen a prosperous LGBT film industry, resulting in the emergence of the rainbow cinema subgenre. Georgeland films took 6.5% of local box office takings in 2019. The National Film and Television Academy, established in 1992, is Georgeland's premier film and TV industry body and administers the prestigious National Film and TV Awards, known colloquially as the 'Natties'. Prominent Georgeland films include 1995's gangland drama The Family Business, the 2002 survival story Me (which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film), and 2019 sports drama Ladies First. Georgelanders to win Academy Awards include actors David Wallis, Freya Stein and Sally Wiley, director Jon Bernardo, and screenwriter Asa Ball.
Georgeland's television media is dominated by the publicly-owned Georgeland Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and five commercial television networks. There are multiple subscription television and streaming services. In 2022, only 69% of Georgeland households watched broadcast television once a day or more, with streaming services increasing their market share every year, partly due to strong internet infrastructure. Most major and many smaller Georgeland cities have at least one daily metropolitan newspaper, however, subscription and sales of newspapers are decreasing and some major news organisations have now ceased physical publication, instead focusing on online content. Reporters Without Borders judged Georgeland 4th in the world for press freedom in 2023, and the country has a strong tradition of independent journalism.
Unlike its film industry, Georgeland's music and recording industry has been prolific throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, and multicultural traditions have led to fusions of traditional western music with African and Asian forms. The world's first modern 78 rpm phonograph record was produced in Georgeland by Thomas Taylor in 1877, and the country's recording studios adopted the standard in 1905, the first in the world to do so. During the 1960s, seminal rock band The Bandits won multiple recording awards, and in 1992 became the first Georgelanders to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Georgeland concert pianist Leon Joyce was the recipient of the inaugural classical soloist Grammy Award in 1959, repeating his feat twice more and becoming Georgeland's first and only musician to win three Grammys. Local music awards, the Georgeland Recording Artists Union Awards (The Graus), have been awarded annually since 1977.
More recent international success has been seen by rock bands Life on Mars, Ganesh and The Persephones, rappers JemmAH and Dar-C, folk artist Snacx, and electronic duo Beep Boop.
Cuisine
The first settlers to Georgeland brought English and Irish cuisines, but immigration, even very early in the country's history, soon saw Georgeland develop a multicultural fusion of cuisines and styles. Nonetheless the British influence is still very clear with the popularity of dishes such as fish and chips. Georgeland is one of the world's largest consumers, and suppliers, of fish per capita and seafood dominates local cuisines and menus. Potatoes are a popular side dish due to Irish influence. Especially since World War II, immigrants from South Asia brought distinct flavours and cooking methods, blending them with local traditions and often using local ingredients. This has resulted in quintessentially Georgeland dishes such as the neemish curry, or the neemo. Arabic and Middle-Eastern cuisine has also become extremely popular since the 1970s, along with African dishes such as fufu or ogali.
Though native edible crops are rare, a few examples of native vegetables found only in Georgeland, other than neem, include red okra, tropical plantanas, the Bradmarch pear, and several local herbs including kingswort and blacktar. These are often used in Georgeland cuisine, especially in fusion dishes. Other iconic foods include the dingle tart, the mince pie (as distinct from the traditional English dessert, which in Georgeland is called a Christmas tart), and the jolly cake, the last of which was invented by Georgeland pastry chef Richard Singer in 1914. Coffee beans are cultivated in some parts of Georgeland, and Georgeland has a strong coffee culture, though tea consumption remains higher.
Georgeland is a leading consumer of wine, with a growing local wine industry. Georgeland ranks 23rd in beer consumption, with 70.4 litres per capita and more than 4,000 liters consumed every year. Local breweries are common, especially in the hotter, northern parts of the country.
Sport and recreation
Georgeland's most popular sport is association football (soccer), while cricket is also very popular. Football matches in Georgeland's national league are generally played during summer, although recent seasons have scheduled them at other times due to mass cancellations during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Georgeland Football Association governs football in Georgeland and manages all professional and semi-professional leagues across Georgeland's three divisions, for both men's and women's teams. While football has been popular in Georgeland for most of its history, its first organised men's league only appeared in the 1960s; the first women's league appeared during World War II. The GFA also organises the GFA Cup, the country's premier sporting event. Georgeland teams Santa Christina United, Lylecity FC, Emilypolis FC and Doubledance FC are considered world-standard and have appeared in multiple club competitions. Georgeland's men's national football team has been somewhat less successful, failing to qualify for most FIFA World Cups. Since 2010, Georgeland has played as part of the Asian Football Confederation and has qualified for every Asian Cup since that time, but has never advanced beyond the quarter-finals.
Georgeland is a test-playing nation and full member of the International Cricket Council. Its first test match was played in 1904 against Australia, its first One Day International in 1974 against England, and its first Twenty20 match in 2007 against Pakistan; the team lost all three of these debut games. Georgeland's cricket team's most successful period was in the 1980s, when it was ranked 3rd in the world; in 2023 it was ranked ninth, behind Bangladesh but ahead of Zimbabwe. Georgeland cricket fans usually consider Australia to be theirt biggest rival, although games against India and Pakistan also attract large crowds. Georgeland has participated in every cricket World Cup, its best placing being third in 1987.
Georgeland has participated in every modern Olympic Games apart from one, having been part of the boycott of the 1980 Moscow games. Between 1938 and 2018 Georgeland also participated in the Commonwealth Games, hosting the event only once, in Doubledance in 2014. Olympic achievement for Georgeland crosses multiple sports but with particular emphasis on swimming, athletics and gymnastics.
International sporting events held in Georgeland include the Georgeland Open golf tournament and the Long Island Grand Prix, a premier motorsport event. Being a maritime nation, Georgeland excels in yachting and sailing competitions, and hosts several including the prestigious annual Trans-Georgeland Race which circumnavigates the archipelago.
Other popular sports include rugby union, tennis and basketball, all of which have organised national competitions. In Scoita, Gaelic Football and Hurling are particularly popular, and the state has one of the few professional hurling competitions outside Ireland.