Bistravia

Bistravian Republic Бістравска Републіка Bistravska Republika
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto:  "Хродость a усіловность" (tr.) "Hrodost a usilovnost'" "Pride and diligence"
Anthem:  "Ґлас народу" (tr.) "Glas narodu'" "Voice of the people"
Capital	Miensk
Official languages	Bistravian
Ethnic groups (2021)	87.2% Bistravians 3.2% Soravians 9.6% others
Demonym(s)	Bistravian
Government	Unitary Semi-Presidential Constitutional Republic
• President	Viktor Kríž
• Prime Minister	Martina Ovoječka
• Speaker of the Rada	Artur Martin Halent
Legislature	Rada
Establishment
• Principality of Vyzemia	597
• Tengarian rule	1350
• Soravian conquest	July 27, 1650
• Bistravian FSR	March 11, 1936
• Independence	February 4, 1980
• Current Constitution	May 17, 1982
Area
• Estimate	171,288.32 km2 (66,134.79 sq mi)
• Water (%)	13.41%
Population
• 2020 census	10,422,100
• Density	60.85/km2 (157.6/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	$206,222 billion
• Per capita	$19,787
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	$123,710 billion
• Per capita	$11,870
Gini (2020)	23.1 low
HDI (2020)	0.818 very high
Currency	Bistravian Orol (BSO)
Time zone	UTC-1
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+32
Internet TLD	.bi

The Bistravian Republic (bi. Бістравска Републіка, Bistravska Republika), also known as Bistravia (bi. Бістравя, Bistravia) is a landlocked country in central Euclea. It is bordered by Vedmed to the north, West Miersa to the east, Champania and Amathia to the southeast, Tengaria to the south and Radushia to the east. Bistravia has a hilly landscape that covers over 170,000 km² (66,000 sq mi) with a mostly temperate climate. The capital, Miensk, is also the largest city in the republic. Other major urban areas include Kraljovice, Růžyn, Sveti Hora and Andřejovice.

Several early feudal Marolevic states fought for the control over the area after fall of the Solarian Empire, with Vyzemia gaining an upper hand in the late 9th century, following the support of the Empire of Arciluco and introduction of the Sotirianity in the region. The Principality of Vyzemia, a client state of the Empire, controlled most of the eastern coast of lake Min until its vassalization by the Empire of Tengaria in 1330 by Ivan II. During the Iconoclast Wars the population of modern-day Bistravia, prone to religious conversion, supported the Iconoclasts, mainly the Realm of Thorns. Tengarian intervention ended the rebellion and installed Tengarian nobility on the principal seats. During the Tengarian golden age, many towns were founded, mostly along the coast of lake Min, as well as mines, latifundiums and universities. Fall of the empire saw the emergence of Tengaro-Bistravian and Amathian nobility, which created an independent Verominian Principality in 1549. Increasing Soravian and Amathian influences in the late 16th and early 17th century ultimately ended with the partition of the state in 1650.

Bistravian lands were subjected to heavy industralization in the second half of the 19th century - mining, manufacturing and textile industry developed in the area. The region, comparatively undeveloped, quickly turned into an important industrial sate of the Soravian Empire. During the late 1800s, a Bistravian nationalism emerged, focused mostly on the rural population, which had less privileges and opportunities than Soravo-Bistravian and Amathio-Bistravian burgher class. Bistravian nationalism would be hindered by the Great Collapse and the Great War, though, eventually, a Bistravian Federal Sovereign Republic was created in 1936, the first Bistravian ethno-state. The Soravian civil war resulted in the Bistravian declaration of dissolution on 4th February 1980, while a new constitution was signed in 1982. Since then, the republic is a democratic and independent state.

Bistravia is a unitary, semi-presidential republic and a developing country comprised of 13 regions (bi. крає, kraje). Its market economy is largely based on services, though industries (such as machinery or mining) and agriculture still play a major role. Bistravian Republic is a member of important international organizations: Community of Nations, International Trade Organization and, most importantly, Samorspi. The country faces several socioeconomic problems: poverty is still prevalent throughout the nation, while corruption and nepotism affect political institutions on national and local levels. Bistravia is considered a flawed democracy, with many of the human rights below the level of other Euclean nations in the east.

Demographics

According to 2020 census, the population of Bistravia was 10,422,100, making it 16th most populous country in Euclea. With a population density of 60.85/km2 (157.6/sq mi), it's also one of the least densely populated nation on the continent. After peaking at 11.2 million people in 1998, the population of Bistravia is continuously decreasing, with nearly 800,000 inhabitants less in 2020 than it was in 1998. This is, partially, due to very low total fertility rate, estimated at 1.55 children per woman, much below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman, combined with high numbers of reported abortions. The other reason is a negative net migration rate of -2.2, with insufficient living conditions, low quality education and lack of job perspectives cited as the main causes. People migrate mostly to countries like Soravia or Amathia but there is also a significant number of Bistravians in Eastern Euclea. Bistravia is one of the few countries in Kylaris that suffers from population decline. It is expected to reach 10 million by 2030 and 9 million by 2050. The life expectancy is 73.14 years (68.53 years male; 77.87 years female). Bistravia has one of the lowest male-to-female ratio, at 0.87 males/females. In 2020, there was 4,869,118 males and 5,552,982 females living in the republic. Every year, more boys are born than girls and until the age of 39 there are more men than women. From the age of 65, there are over 2 times more women than men.

Bistravia can be considered ethnically homogeneous, with 87.2% of the population considering themselves Bistravian. The group is of Marolevic origin and has inhabited area since at least 4th century, though the Bistravian ethnic identity has formed only in late 19th century, following the rapid industrialization and mass migrations of rural population to city centers. Soravians are the largest minority, constituting for 3.2% of the population - these are mostly descendants of Soravian or Soravian married families that moved to the coast of Lake Min during 1950s and 1960s to work in newly developing aerospace, logistics and energy industries. Other notable minorities include Tengarians, Vedmedi, Savaders (also called Hercí) and Vysemians, who distinct themselves from Bistravians by the usage of Vysemian language (sometimes treated as a dialect) and belonging to the Syčavite Church that rose to prominence in the Bistravian eastern highlands during the Iconoclast Wars.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1850	2,500,000	—
1910	4,070,000	+0.82%
1936	5,588,000	+1.23%
1950	6,728,715	+1.34%
1960	7,661,830	+1.31%
1970	8,897,441	+1.51%
1982	9,780,645	+0.79%
1990	10,386,488	+0.75%
2000	11,187,644	+0.75%
2010	10,742,876	−0.40%
2020	10,422,100	−0.30%

Urbanization

There are 3,046 localities in Bistravia: 925 cities and towns (Bistravian term: město, plural: města; the terminology does not distinguish between these two terms), with one of them above 1 million inhabitants, further 5 cities above 100,000 inhabitants, 13 above 50,000 and 298 above 5,000 people. The urbanization rate is 75.4% and is projected to reach 80% by the end of 2035 due to large rural-urban migration flow, especially to the coastal region of the country. There are over 2,000 villages throughout the republic, however, the number can change as any village can be elevated to a town status by act of the President - in 2020, 5 villages were granted that status. The largest village, Šumnica, has 4027 inhabitans, while the smallest town, Vihný Rog, has a population of 1112. Bistravian Statistical Office distinguishes 4 agglomerations (or early stage agglomerations) areas - these are Miensk, Kraljovice, Růžyn and Andřejovice.