South Neviersia
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State of South Neviersia État veu Nevyirchézuid (Lainerovan étendard) Phénou o Lainerova (Te Rova Lainer) | |
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Motto: "Forger de pathe minne venturait." "To forge the path less travelled." | |
Anthem: "Oh Lainerova!" | |
Capital and largest city | Darwinschtad 31°10′59″S 151°10′42″W |
Official languages | |
Recognised regional languages |
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Ethnic groups (2024)[b] |
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Religion (2024) |
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Demonym(s) |
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Government | Unitary parliamentary republic |
• President | Chris Demagh-Wyvern |
• Prime Minister | Tiōran Umiōngardi |
• Speaker of the National Assembly | Richarde Tepaix |
Legislature | National Assembly |
Establishment | |
• Independence from the Kingdom of Neviersia | 30 May 1839 |
• Independence from the United Kingdom | 20 April 1946 |
• Treaty of Otenova | 8 September 1959 |
• Current constitution | 20 April 1961 |
Area | |
• | 776,212 km2 (299,697 sq mi) (45th) |
• Water (%) | 3.41 |
Population | |
• March 2024 estimate | 37,485,293 (48th) |
• January 2024 census | 37,429,187 |
• Density | 48.25/km2 (125.0/sq mi) (181st) |
GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $1.546 trillion |
• Per capita | $41,317 |
GDP (nominal) | 2021 estimate |
• Total | $2.106 trillion |
• Per capita | $56,098 |
Gini (2023) | 27.2 low |
HDI (2023) | 0.901 very high |
Currency | South Neviersian Dollar (SND) |
Time zone | UTC+14 (Central Veropan Time) |
Driving side | left |
Calling code | +414 |
ISO 3166 code | SN |
Internet TLD | .sn |
South Neviersia (Lainerovan étendard: Nevyirchézuid; Te Rova Lainer: Lainerova), officially the State of South Neviersia (Lainerovan étendard: État veu Nevyirchézuid; Te Rova Lainer: Phénou o Lainerova), is a unitary republic in southern Veropa. It is bordered to the north and north-east by Neviersia, to the south by the Sea of Macarthur, to the west by Manima, to the southwest by Helessima, and to the southeast by the northern exclave of Allevarres. South Neviersia covers 776,212 square kilometres, making it the 9th largest country in Veropa. As of 2024, the estimated population is 37,429,000. South Neviersia comprises 9 regions and 80 administrative counties. The capital and largest city of South Neviersia is Darwinschtad, and the national language is Lainerovan (étendard and Te Rova Lainer).
The Spanish first conquered and colonised the region in the mid-17th century, replacing indigenous Lainerovan rule, but failed to conquer the peoples of Lainerovan Kadlara and most of the midlands and northern regions. The French and Dutch later ruled different parts of the region, with the French controlling most of what is now the West Layners and Perth Country, and the Dutch ruling over areas which are now part of The Durbanites, Greater Darwin, East Coast and the Midlands. The British exerted the most cultural and political influence over the entire country, ruling from the late 1700s to the end of World War Two in 1945. Lainerovan Kadlara was the last region to be colonised by any European power, falling under British control in 1898 after the Great Fall in Bondulagh, ending the 100-Year War.
Shortly after independence, the country fell into political conflict, particularly centred around Lainerovan Kadlara's regional capital, Bondulagh, over the official designation of the country, eventually culminating in the Bondulagh Rugby Riots in 1951 and the subsequent cultural war between the Lainerovans and European settlers, known as the Naming Conflict Wars. The Treaty of Otenova ultimately ended the conflict in 1959, recognising both the names of "South Neviersia" and "Lainerova" as official and giving Lainerovans equal rights as European settlers. The country joined the Veropan Union as one of the founding members, along with 19 other nations, in 1988, following a conflict in the southeastern corner of the country near the Republic of Allevarres. The conflict stemmed from territorial disputes over fishing rights in shared waters and border skirmishes due to nationalist movements seeking to reclaim Allevarrian Neviersia as part of South Neviersia, leading to sporadic clashes along the border. These tensions have historical roots in the colonial era when colonial powers arbitrarily drew boundaries when Allevarrian Neviersia and Kesolia were given to the Republic of Allevarres and the Kingdom of Neviersia respectively.
South Neviersia has a high-income economy and is one of the most economically and socially stable nations in Veropa, leading in economic freedom and productivity, democracy and human rights. Technology, finance, tourism and agriculture are the most prominent industries, and government policies prioritise investing in education, healthcare and road and rail infrastructure. The country has a population comprising the multiracial Lainerovans, the Europeans, Africans and Asians. The main spoken language is Lainerovan étendard, although the majority of South Neviersians can speak English fluently, as well as other languages such as Kadlaran and Rolmunavian. Conflicts on the East Coast regarding the neighbouring region of Allevarrian Neviersia in the Republic of Allevarres still occur, but have decreased in frequency over the past years.
Etymology
South Neviersia, known colloquially as Lainerova, derives its name from the Nevyirs, mythical creatures in Nevyirism, the indigenous religion of the region. The descriptor "South" denotes the nation's geographic position relative to its northern counterpart, the Kingdom of Neviersia, formerly North Neviersia.
The name "Lainerova" traces its roots further back in time than "South Neviersia", recognised as a secondary official designation since the ratification of the Treaty of Otenova in 1959, following the Naming Conflict Wars in Bondulagh. It derives from King Lainere, monarch of the ancient Kingdom of Lainerova during the 15th century. The king's name, which roughly translates to "steel" or "iron", possibly relates to the three runic stones in the steel mines north of Davenport, though this remains a subject of debate by historians.
While the Treaty of Otenova mostly ended violence since the late 1950s, the debate over the country's name remains, with proponents advocating for a return to the indigenous name, Lainerova. The term itself, however, has varying definitions, with some using it synonymously with South Neviersia and others using it to encompass the broader historical region, particularly Allevarrian Neviersia in the Republic of Allevarres and, to a lesser extent, the city of Kesolia in Neviersia.
The standard way to refer to a citizen of South Neviersia is as a "South Neviersian." Colloquially, citizens of South Neviersia may be referred to as Territorians, South Nevvies and Lainers/Lannies. The term Lainerovan is used more broadly to refer to the country's indigenous citizens and is used as such in the ethnicity question of the country's decennial census, but has expanded to include non-indigenous citizens (particularly those of European descent) in recent years.
History
Prehistory
The general area now called Lainerova, mainly South Neviersia and surrounding islands and territories has been inhabited by Austronesian peoples speaking the same Oceanic language, Te Rova Sortoma, since as early as 41,000 years ago, and are now known as Te Lainer Sortoma (Sortoma Lainerovan). Sometime between 3000 BCE and 2300 BCE, voyagers from Melanesia and Polynesia settled and introduced their cultural aspects, and are considered the younger wave of the first Te Lainer Sortoma. However, the technical term is Te Lainer Sortumela. The majority of Te Lainer Sortoma resided in modern-day Lainerovan Kadlara.
Around the same time, around 3000 BCE, Lainerova received a mass wave of Austronesian settlers from the northern Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, most of whom settled along the south-central coast. These Austronesians came to be called Te Lainer Asana (Asana Lainerovan). They created clans based on their own homeland traditions and briefly clashed with the Te Lainer Sortoma until they gradually intermingled and slowly became a unified people.
Te Lainer Larishoma (Larishoma Lainerovan) are the last group of indigenous peoples to arrive in South Neviersia, around 3000 years ago. A mass departure from Siberia led to swathes of new settlers arriving in the country's northern regions. Local oral historians at Tipley University speculate they called themselves the nurinovog. These tribes initially maintained their isolation from the other two Lainer groups for their first few centuries.
The earliest known surviving written record in South Neviersia is the early 9th century AD Inscription of Etirangei, marking the milestone of Te Lainer Larishoma making contact with Te Lainer Asana for the first time in modern-day Echireagh. The inscription, which was found on a rock monument that is now preserved in the city's museum, was written in both Nurinovog and Te Rova Lainer.
By the turn of the first millennium AD, several coastal settlements have been established as centres of commerce and trade, including modern-day Bondulagh, Lormagh-Clouthdin, Davenport, Port Andeagh and Darwinschtad. Some polities had exchanged with other regions throughout southern Veropa, including Kadlara, Kesolia, Ture and Allevarres. Population density in the midlands is thought to have decreased as economic activity became increasingly concentrated along the coast.
Pre-European Lainerova
Prior to the arrival of European explorers, Lainerova was home to several polities, kingdoms and empires with diverse cultures, customs and traditions. These included the Kingdoms of Korry, Dungart(h), Davenio, Etiranga, the Averian Empire and the Kingdom of Tiplich. Two of the most notable among them were the Kingdoms of Rolmunavis (also known as Neviersia), which lasted through most of the 1300s, and the Kingdom of Lainerova, lasting from the 1400s to the beginning of the European conquest. This era was characterised by extensive trade networks between the various kingdoms and political entities, which fostered diplomatic relations with neighbouring regions such as the Kingdom of Kadlara, Allevarres and the Kingdom of Acria.
The emergence of Nevyirism in Lainerova during the 9th to 13th centuries marked a significant turning point in the region's history. The Rolmunavians introduced the religion to the people of Lainerova, primarily in the north. Several nevyirchū, temples used for worship and prayer, were constructed in northern Lainerova, the largest of which was the Nevyirchū o Tiplich, located in the hills west of modern-day Tipley. The eponymous lake became a sacred place for Nevyirist rituals. While some southern regions were later influenced by Nevyirism, others, particularly in the southwest, resisted the conquest, leading to conflicts between the Kingdom of Neviersia and the southwestern kingdoms, especially the Kingdom of Kadlara. The Neviersians emerged victorious and annexed southern Kadlara, giving it the new name Lainerovan Kadlara, which still retains near-identical boundaries today.
King Lainere founded the Kingdom of Lainerova during the 1400s. He united the diverse Lainer tribes under one political entity, potentially the first largely successful instance, marking a departure from previous eras of conflict. The kingdom established a hierarchical structure delineating the roles of the monarch, nobles, priests, and common folk, administering justice and governance at regional and local levels and giving greater local autonomy than in the Rolmunavian era. The kingdom was divided into 54 phénou, each governed by a tatēphénou. The boundaries mostly corresponded with modern traditional counties.
Early European conquest and colonial rule
The Kingdom of Lainerova collapsed during the early stages of the European conquest of Veropa due to the overwhelming military and technological superiority of the invading European forces, as well as the introduction of foreign pathogens, which led to the deaths of an estimated 200,000 Lainerovans. The Spanish first conquered and colonised the region in the mid-17th century, replacing indigenous Lainerovan rule, but failed to conquer the peoples of Lainerovan Kadlara and most of the midlands and northern regions. Lainerovan Kadlara's mountainous terrain and challenging topography made it difficult for the European forces to conquer and colonise the area. The midlands and northern regions, on the other hand, are located further inland and were also able to resist initial colonisation attempts due to their distance from the coast. These regions were able to maintain their independence for a considerable time, despite the efforts of the European powers to subjugate them.
The French and Dutch later ruled different parts of the region, with the French controlling most of what is now the West Layners and Perth Country, and the Dutch ruling over areas which are now part of The Durbanites, Greater Darwin, East Coast and the Midlands.
British Neviersia (1773–1946)
The British exerted the most cultural and political influence over the entire country, ruling from the late 1700s to the end of World War Two in 1945. Lainerovan Kadlara was the last region to be colonised by any European power, falling under British control in 1898 after the Great Fall in Bondulagh, ending the 100-Year War.
Independence (1946–present)
In 1946, the State of Westminster Act and Independence Act were adopted, meaning the British Parliament could no longer legislate for the country without its consent, and that South Neviersia would become a republic. In the aftermath of independence, the government implemented the "South Neviersians First" policy, aiming to prioritise South Neviersian-owned businesses and industries. However, this policy brought to light tensions between South Neviersians of European descent and the Lainerovans, evident in Bondulagh, Lainerovan Kadlara's regional capital, where discrimination against Lainerovans persisted and social and economic disparities were rampant. There were initial attempts between 1946 and 1949 to draft and ratify a constitution. However, these early attempts were marred by political divisions, conflicts of interest and disagreements over key provisions.
The Naming Conflict Wars - a conflict over the country's official designation and for social change - erupted in 1951, centred around Bondulagh, beginning with the "Rugby Riots". The Treaty of Otenova ended the conflict in 1959, recognising both the names of "South Neviersia" and "Lainerova" as official and giving Lainerovans equal rights as European settlers. The country's first written constitution was drafted and ratified on the country's 15th independence anniversary. After the conflict, many parts of Lainerovan Kadlara and the rest of the country were in poverty. The Territorian Front Party, founded during the conflict, rose to power and established a comprehensive welfare program and protectionist economy. This led to a mass migration of Lainerovans from rural areas to urban centres, which was most evident in Northern Lainerova, where many young Lainerovans left regional centres like Tipley and Averiapolis for the more populated southern regions such as Adel and Darwinschtad.
Allevarrian Neviersia, a region of the Republic of Allevarres with a significant Lainerovan/South Neviersian population, faced turmoil in the 1970s due to an economic depression, exacerbated by plummeting investment in the region, and a brain drain from its largest city, Finnetoora, to either South Neviersia or mainland Allevarres. There were increasing territorial disputes over fishing rights in shared waters and border skirmishes due to nationalist and separatist movements seeking to reclaim Allevarrian Neviersia as part of South Neviersia. In 1977, a failed military coup took place, led by Separatist Kael Tuihovia-Kakapo. This culminated in a conflict that spilt into South Neviersia, as unionist Allevarrians accused the South Neviersian government of its involvement. Over 11 years, the conflict resulted in 6,000 casualties, 1,800 of them children, and displaced 44,000 residents. The conflict, which came to be known as the Finnetoora Conflict, ended in 1988 with the Treaty of Finnetoora. The Treaty of Otenova was constitutionally recognised shortly after. South Neviersia, along with 19 other nations, became one of the founding members of the Veropan Union.
Since the 1980s, the Veropan Union facilitated economic growth and development in South Neviersia, drawing in thousands of economic migrants from other Veropan countries, mainly Neviersia and Acria, and contributing to the political stability and cooperation among member states. The $213 billion South Coast Veropa High-Speed Rail project, spanning nearly 3,000 kilometres from South Neviersia to Neviersia and ending in Bolfayem, Acria, was completed in 2013.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were fears over a second iteration of the Finnetoora Conflict as the borders between South Neviersia and Allevarres were closed for the first few months since March 2020, reigniting a debate about whether Allevarrian Neviersia should reunite with South Neviersia. Although skirmishes did occur at the borders, no violent conflicts materialised. The Territorian Front Party member Chris Demagh-Wyvern became the country's youngest president ever at 38 years old in 2021. Since the beginning of the 2020s, the country has seen much of its diaspora return to South Neviersia, including foreign-born descendants of South Neviersians, amidst cost of living and housing crises in other countries like Australia, Ivelboria, Acria and the United Kingdom.
Geography
South Neviersia is located in southern central Veropa, sharing land borders with Manima across the Kadlaran Ranges to the west; Neviersia to the north; Allevarrian Neviersia (Allevarres) to the southeast; the Sea of Macarthur to the south; and Helessima to the southwest. With a total land area of 776,212 km2 (299,697 sq mi), South Neviersia is the ninth largest country in Veropa and the 45th largest globally.
The highest point is Mount Verney in Lainerovan Kadlara at 3,136 m (10,288 ft) above sea level. The lowest point is Lake Yostedal in the Upper Norlands at −41 m (−134 ft) below sea level.
The northernmost point is at the oxbow lake in Chadernozar, Northern Lainerova − the northernmost city in South Neviersia − at the border with Neviersia; the southernmost and westernmost points can be found within South Montago National Park in Lainerovan Kadlara and the easternmost point is near the city of Dungarth in the East Coast.
The country has three major river basins whose rivers are all discharged into the Sea of Macarthur: the Perth Country Basin, the Southeast Highlands Basin and the Southern Kadlaran Basin. Some of the major rivers include the Verney, Adel, Perth, Daven, Macarthur and Hurnstall. Significant geographical features of South Neviersia include the Kadlaran Ranges, of which Lainerovan Kadlara forms a small part, the Perth Ranges, the Midland Plains, the Southeast Highlands, the Durban Hills, the West Layners Forests and the Northland Hills.
National disasters can sometimes be a threat in South Neviersia, including flooding, thunderstorms, hail and bushfires.
Climate
According to the Köppen system, the subtropical climate characterises much of South Neviersia. There are variations in temperature and precipitation depending on the latitude and altitude, such as the Northland regions of Northern Lainerova and the Upper Norlands hosting a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Cwa), whereas the humid subtropical climate (Cfa) is present in most of midland and southern South Neviersia. This results in typically long, hot and humid summers averaging 22 degrees °C (71.6 °F) and mild winters rarely dropping below 15 degrees °C (59 °F).
Most of Lainerovan Kadlara and Perth Country has an oceanic climate (Cfb) as a result of latitude and higher altitude respectively. Summers are warm with a mean temperature of 20 degrees °C (68 °F) and mild winters. On the highest peaks of the Southern Kadlaran Ranges and Perthian Hills, the climate can be subpolar and even alpine on the higher peaks, experiencing colder temperatures and heavy snowfall.
Biodiversity
South Neviersia is a country of high biodiversity in its flora and fauna, housing many endemic species, among them being the Koturonga bird, the Sonderford panther and the critically endangered Rо̄ngarei white-tailed deer. The Lainerovan capybara, the country's national animal, is a species endemic to the humid subtropical southeastern South Neviersia and Greater Darwin, presumed to share a descendant with the South American capybaras. Along the southern coast, deciduous and broadleaf forests, and grasslands are commonplace, whereas further north, there is a transition to tropical grasslands, savannahs and shrublands.
Since European settlement, an estimated 27% of species native in South Neviersia have become extinct. There are currently more than 1,100 animals on plants considered to be "threatened" or "critically threatened" declared by the South Neviersian Biological Diversity Agency, including 400 from Northern Lainerova alone and a combined 300 from The Durbanites and Greater Darwin. South Neviersia has numerous protected areas to conserve and protect the diverse ecosystems throughout the country. Many major cities and urban areas, especially the Big Four, imposed green belt restrictions to combat urban sprawl and further loss of natural habitat. There are 14 national parks in South Neviersia.
Government and politics
South Neviersia is a unitary parliamentary republic. The National Assembly is the unicameral national parliament, located in the capital city, Darwinschtad. The President of South Neviersia serves as the head of state and is elected for a five-year term - and may only be re-elected once. The Kenwickboragh House is the official residence of the President. Chris Demagh-Wyvern was elected to become the 13th President of South Neviersia on 16 September 2021. Although the President primarily serves a ceremonial role, they retain certain powers outlined in the constitution. The Prime Minister serves as the head of government and is appointed by the President upon the election of a new National Assembly. Conventionally, most Prime Ministers in South Neviersia also served as the head of the political party with the largest number of seats in the National Assembly.
The National Assembly has 370 Members of Parliament (MP) elected through the mixed-member proportional (MMP) system. 185 members are appointed in single-member constituencies, while the remaining 185 members are elected from a political party's list of candidates - the number of "list candidates" each political party is entitled to is roughly proportional to their share of the list vote. It is typical for political parties to form a coalition government, as there has not been a single-party government since 1992.
South Neviersia has been a member state of the Veropan Union since its founding in 1988. Citizens of the Republic of Allevarres can freely enter the country without a passport, since both countries, along with Neviersia, signed the Neviersian-Allevarrian Open Borders Act 1988.
Foreign relations and military
Foreign relations are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reports to the president. South Neviersia is one of the founding members of the Veropan Union and is participating in minor peacekeeping operations in the Sheplanian province of North Knarbergia. South Neviersia is described as a middle power in the Veropan-Oceanic region. South Neviersia is a part of the Neviersian Trio Alliance, the other two being Neviersia and Allevarres, whose aims are to foster economic and infrastructure development between the three nations. The N3, along with Acria and Knarbergia, form the central-eastern bloc of the Veropan Union.
The country is also a member of the United Nations but, unlike other past British colonies in Veropa, is not part of the British Commonwealth. Nonetheless, the country maintains political and economic relations with the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The influence of the Veropan Union on Australia, certain ASEAN members, and New Zealand in particular, increased since its formation in the 1980s, through non-aggression pacts and free-trade agreements.
The country's military services, the South Neviersian Defence Force (SNDF), which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence, comprises the South Neviersian Army (SNA), the South Neviersian Navy (SNN) and the South Neviersian Air Force (SNAF). The president holds the title of commander-in-chief of the SNDF and is responsible for the country's defence and security policies.
Military service is voluntary, although conscription was not abolished until as recently as the late 1980s, following the end of the conflict in the Republic of Allevarres.
Administrative divisions
South Neviersia is traditionally split into 9 regions and 58 traditional counties (excluding the four counties of Allevarrian Neviersia, governed by the Republic of Allevarres). Since the 1981 reformations and the establishment of the Local Administration Structure, South Neviersia is split into 11 regional authorities and 80 administrative counties, most of which correspond to the traditional boundaries. The 80 administrative counties are subdivided into districts (called municipalities or boroughs in some counties), which are, in turn, subdivided into wards. Some administrative counties are governed by a unitary authority, which combines the responsibilities of a county council and the district councils (or equivalent).
Section 7 of the South Neviersian Constitution gives regions the ability to form a Ghémente Régionale (Regional Authority) by ratifying a Home Rule Agreement (HRA) with the government. A HRA grants regional authorities the power to govern and legislate on matters of regional interest, consistent with the laws and values of the nation. The agreement may encompass matters related to regional development, public services, local governance and other affairs that directly affect the well-being and interests of the residents within a given jurisdiction. In exceptional circumstances where a regional authority acts against the nation’s best interests, values or laws, or for other reasons deemed necessary, the government may temporarily suspend or even revoke the regional authority’s HRA and consequently bring the region under direct government administration. While this has never happened to date, there have been a few instances where talks of an HRA suspension have taken place, notably during the 1970s cross-border conflict in East Coast-Allevarrian Neviersia.
Local Government Lainerova is a cross-national local government association operating across South Neviersia and Allevarrian Neviersia in the Republic of Allevarres. It works to give local government a voice in the respective national governments on behalf of the local councils and the communities they serve.
Region | Population | Area (km2) | Capital | Regional Map | ||
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Postal code | Traditional
(Lainerovan) |
Regional Authority | ||||
EC | East Coast
Saséphénoumōane |
East Coast Council | 2,388,000 | 58,280 | Caerkorry | |
GD | Greater Darwin
Groter Darwin |
Greater Darwin Council | 6,184,000 | 5,764 | Darwinschtad | |
IOM | Isles of Macarthur County Council | Fort Macarthur | ||||
LK | Lainerovan Kadlara
Lainerovaírn Kadlarach |
Local Government Lainerovan Kadlara | 5,571,000 | 84,604 | Bondulagh | |
MD | Midland
Phénoulagatahi |
Government of Midland | 3,043,000 | 171,404 | Echireagh | |
NL | Northern Lainerova
Norder Lainerova |
Government of Northern Lainerova | 2,083,000 | 94,028 | Tipley | |
PC | Perth Country
Phénoupeurte |
Perth Country Regional Council | 1,748,000 | 112,396 | Perth | |
TD | The Durbanites
Durbanitetoron |
The Durbanites Regional Council | 8,507,000 | 26,104 | Strathlow | |
TD, TED | The Eastern Durbanites Regional Council | Burlanford | ||||
TWL | The West Layners
Lainerovauru |
The West Layners Council | 6,409,000 | 34,296 | Ossett | |
UN | Upper Norlands
Mongamulougimato |
Upper Norlands Authority | 1,496,000 | 189,336 | Kilbrinagh |
Economy
South Neviersia has a mixed-market economy with a well-developed welfare system including universal healthcare and free university education for South Neviersian citizens and other eligible residents. South Neviersia has a high level of economic freedom and productivity. It had a very high human development index of 0.901 in 2023. The national currency is the South Neviersian Dollar, which is also accepted in Neviersia and the Allevarrian Neviersia region of Allevarres. The nominal GDP per capita was an estimated $56,098 in 2023, whereas the GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) per capita was $41,317. The government debt of an estimated $448 billion in March 2022 exceeds 21.3% of the country's nominal GDP, which has remained relatively steadfast in the last five years compared to other Veropan countries.
Darwinschtad is the financial capital of South Neviersia. Centrale, the primary Central Business District, is a major hub of economic activity, hosting the Darwinschtad Stock Exchange (DEX), Veropa's fifth oldest stock exchange. The city's secondary Central Business District, Macarthur, gives vital marine access to the rest of Veropa and the world, with the Port of Macarthur being the third largest in Veropa. As of 2022, most of South Neviersia's trading partners were other Veropan countries, including Neviersia, Allevarres, Acria, Knarbergia, Ivelboria, Helessima and Skippia. Other non-Veropan trading partners include Australia, New Zealand, China and most ASEAN member states.
The unemployment rate was 3.7% in 2024, according to Economist Veropa. There was a small overall rise in small and medium-sized businesses that had labour shortages post COVID 19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. In 2024, SN Statistics reported that 16% of businesses nationwide did not have enough employees based on their operational needs, up from 13% in 2018, but lower than the 21% figure reported in 2021. The agriculture, education and hospitality industry have the largest labour shortages, with over a quarter of food sector businesses reporting a labour shortage - the highest of any sector. Poverty in South Neviersia is characterised by growing income equality between northerners and southerners, with some northerners up to 15% worse off regarding net income, and 16.7% of northerners being below the poverty line, compared to 13.4% of southerners. There are several discrepancies: Averiapolis in the north has a poverty rate of 13.1%, whereas the Lormagh-Clouthdin metropolitan area in the southwest has a poverty rate of 18.1%.
The leading industries of South Neviersia include the services industry, technology, finance tourism, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. The country exports many subtropical and tropical foods, including basil, capsicum, corn, cucumber and eggplant, largely thanks to the impacts of automated farming and deregulation of the agriculture industry in the late 1990s to increase international exports. A selection of wines are also exported, usually produced in the West Layners. A significant proportion of migrant workers have arrived in South Neviersia from Central and Western Veropa, usually on South Neviersia's Working Holiday Visa program for adults aged 18-35.
Infrastructure
In 2022–2023, over 60% of South Neviersia's electricity came from non-renewable sources such as coal, oil and natural gas. The remaining 36.8% comes from renewable sources: 23.3% from hydropower, 10.3% from wind and solar energy and 3.2% from nuclear energy. Lainerovan Kadlara takes the lead over other regions for its commitment to renewable energy. As of 2024, it is the leading producer of hydropower and wind power in South Neviersia, with the country's largest wind farm – the Schliore Regional Wind Farm – located in northwestern Lainerovan Kadlara. Renewable energy is a growing source of electricity in South Neviersia, and the government has set a target of 80% renewable energy by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2050 in 2019.
Akapо̄tu (formerly Water South Neviersia) is a statutory corporation wholly owned by the Government of South Neviersia, responsible for the country's water and sewerage services. Prior to the water reforms in the 1980s, water services in South Neviersia were managed individually by the 11 regional authorities, ranging from full ownership by the regional council or being privatised. This sometimes led to disparities in service quality and accessibility across different regions, with Water South Neviersia loosely overseeing and regulating operations. Post-reformation, Water South Neviersia was rebranded to Akapо̄tu (deriving from "Aqua por tout", Lainerovan étendard for "Water for all") and the 11 water companies were amalgamated into three larger entities: Akapо̄tu–Southland Water, Akapо̄tu–Midland Water and Akapо̄tu–Northland Water. Stephen Llynford, former Envision Party Leader, criticised the South Neviersian Government as "far behind its northern neighbour" in addressing the 2017 Averiapolis stormwater flooding and the 2022 Metro Davenport sewerage crisis.
In 2021, South Neviersia had a road network of 114,683 kilometres (71,260 miles). The M1 is the longest and most important motorway, spanning from southwestern Lainerovan Kadlara to Dungarth in the northern East Coast, serving most of southern South Neviersia and the major cities. The M2 is a similarly important motorway and starts from Chadernozar in Northern Lainerova to the Caerbangor Intersection with the M1 near Darwinschtad. The country has important ports in Bondulagh, Lormagh-Clouthdin, Port Mateagh (which also serves the inland city of Adel), Wakefield, Davenport, Port Andeagh and Darwinschtad.
Rail transport is vital to South Neviersia's transport infrastructure. The state-owned enterprise RovaRail operates most of the country's railways, with the exception of intercity and commuter services in The West Layners, which are operated by TransLayners Express and Transdev Adel respectively.
South Neviersia has over 20 international airports, taking advantage of the country's strategic position in Veropa, serving most transfers between Asia-Pacific and the Americas and Europe. The "Big Six" refers to the country's six busiest international airports, which are located in Darwinschtad, Davenport, Adel, Bondulagh, Strathlow and Ossett. Darwinschtad Hedland International Airport (simply Darwinschtad Airport) is the most important and busiest domestic and international airport in the country.
Tourism
Tо̄rismei Lainerova (formerly Tourism South Neviersia) is the official marketing agency responsible for promoting South Neviersia to the world. In 2016, a total of 7,593,312 tourists entered South Neviersia, indicating an increase from the 7,479,484 tourists counted in 2015. Tourism contributes $82.134 billion (or 3.9%) to South Neviersia's total GDP and supported 8.2% of the total workforce in 2016.
South Neviersia offers a wide variety of options, ranging from the country's capital city, Darwinschtad, ranked as one of the top five destinations in Veropa, to the mountainous national parks of Mount Verney, Mount Schliore and the Perthian Hills, and the beaches of The Durbanites and East Coast regions. Most of the tourists arriving in South Neviersia came from elsewhere in Veropa, mostly other Veropan Union states, with Neviersians topping the list at 28%, followed by Acria, Allevarres, Ivelboria, Knarbergia and Skippia. The top five countries overseas with the largest number of tourists visiting South Neviersia were Australia, the United States, the Philippines, India and the United Kingdom.
Science and technology
$48.6 billion, or 2.3% of the GDP, was spent on the Research and Development sector in South Neviersia in 2021. The country ranked 64th in the Global Innovation Index in 2023, up from 67th the previous year. The sector has been driven by a multitude of factors, such as research contributions from the Big Seven universities - the University of Darwinschtad being a leading driving force for innovation - and increased funding from the government. Notable South Neviersians who contributed to scientific research include Riо̄n Llynford in antibodies, Peter O Laiо̄nga in rocket science, Charlotte Tinsley in physiology and, more recently, Emmanuel Wood-Josford, for his contributions to nanotechnology.
The Ministry of Research, Development and Innovation is the main authority in the sector in South Neviersia. The government body SciTech Lainerova, provides grants to startups to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. Similar independent institutions cater to younger people who are interested in scientific research or starting a business, such as innovaROVA, Young Leaders of Lainerova and the University of South Neviersia's nationwide research program. Some research organisations focus on agriculture or viticulture, including the Drobon Blythe Institute, which particularly looks into the early winemaking practices that were used by native Lainerovans in the modern-day West Layners region.
South Neviersia has a flourishing astronomy community. The South Neviersian Space Agency (SNSA) maintains and regulates the country's space program, working in conjunction with the Neviersia Space Agency. The country hosts the Montituron Radio Telescope in Echireagh, Midland, and the Yostedalsuder Optical Telescope in northern Kyaois, Upper Norlands. The government announced its plans to upgrade its Echireagh facility by 2028. There are additional astronomy and nanotechnology research centres in Tipley, Mount Talamer, Caerbangor and Darwinschtad.
Demography
The SN Statistics department counted an estimated 37,429,187 inhabitants in the 2024 census, up from 32,835,310 inhabitants in 2014. South Neviersia ranks eighth in Veropa in total population and 45th globally. The population density of 48.25 persons per square kilometre of land area is just shy of the world average of 50 persons.
The majority of South Neviersians live in the southern regions, loosely referred to as Southland. An estimated 28.8 million residents, or just over three-quarters of the total population, live in Southland (or Southland Lainerova), with the remaining 8.3 million residents living in Inner Lainerova. Part of this can be attributed to the 100-Year War in the 1800s (part of the British Conquest of Lainerova) when Midland's population drifted either northwards or southwards. In turn, many of the northern populations drifted north of the border into Neviersia.
The largest source of immigration comes from Veropan nations, particularly Acria, Ivelboria, Neviersia and Skippia. Outside of Veropa, the United Kingdom, India, China and various Polynesian nations appear the most frequently on the question concerning country of birth on the SN Statistics census. As of 2024, South Neviersia is a minority-majority country, with 47.31% of South Neviersians identifying as Lainerovan/Lainer, 36.69% as European, 10.13% Asian, 4.71% Pacific Islander, 3.50% ME/LA/African (Middle Eastern, Latin American or African) and 2.77% as another ethnic group, with 2.66% of respondents choosing "No answer". The census allows South Neviersians to select multiple ethnicities on their form, hence ethnicity figures adding to more than 100%.
Lainerovan typically refers to indigenous South Neviersians, a multiracial ethnic group comprising three main distinct racial groups who arrived in the region around the same time three to four millennia ago: the Asana, the Sortoma and the Larishoma. The term "Lainer" has become more preferred to Lainerovan since the Naming Conflict Wars, the cultural war between proponents and opponents of the potential reverting to the indigenous name "Lainerova". Because of this, especially since the 2010s, using the term Lainerovan to refer to non-indigenous South Neviersians has become more accepted.
Language
Lainerovan in its two forms, Lainerovan étendard and Te Rova Lainer, is the national official language of all of South Neviersia. English is the co-official language and is commonly spoken in the majority of Southland and Perth Country. Kadlaran (or Te Rova Kadlarach) is recognised as an official language on the regional level in Lainerovan Kadlara and is taught as a mandatory third language starting in secondary school. Students are required to learn Lainerovan étendard and English in all regions except Upper Norlands, and English was not compulsory in Northern Lainerova until as recently as 2016.
South Neviersian English (or Lainerovan English) is perceived to sound like a mix of Northern England, New Zealand and Scottish accents and, in the north, Dutch influences too.
Rolmunavian is a minority language primarily spoken in towns in Upper Norlands and Northern Lainerova near the border with Neviersia, especially in Chadernozar, the northernmost city in the country. Helessiman is offered at some schools in southwestern Lainerovan Kadlara, with three Helessiman language schools in Bondulagh - the region's capital - situated close to the border with Helessima.
Dungarter is an endangered minority language, with 13,000 speakers residing in County Dungarth. It is one of few small indigenous languages, other than the two mainstream languages Lainerovan and Kadlaran, to survive the early European conquest and colonial era. The county council received a grant from the East Coast Council to provide more Dungarter language classes to students in County Dungarth.
Religion
Only 32.5% of South Neviersians were affiliated with Nevyirism at the 2024 SN Statistics census, an all-time low, as well as the sharpest 10-year drop from 43.8% in 2014 compared with the drop from 47.4% in 2004. There has also been a denominational shift in Nevyirism, with Traditionalist and Reformist Nevyirists now having near-equal populations, despite the country's long history of Traditionalist Nevyirism. Only a quarter of Reformists claim to always attend religious services, compared to 64% of Traditionalists.
Conversely, 42.2% of South Neviersians responded with "No religion/No answer" at the SN Statistics census of 2024, the highest percentage in the country's near-80-year existence.
The decrease in Nevyirism and rising secularity can be attributed to shifting attitudes amongst the country's younger generations towards religion and an increase in immigration from non-Nevyirist countries in recent decades.
This also explains the increase in Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims in South Neviersia, who now make up 14.3%, 3.3%, 2.1% and 1.9% of the population respectively. The majority of Christians are attributed to European settlers and immigrants who reside in The West Layners and Perth Country, whereas the other minority religions can be commonly found in urban areas in The Durbanites and Greater Darwin.
Education
Education in South Neviersia is secular and compulsory for 12 years, starting at the age of 5 and ending at 17. The education system is divided into early childhood (3–5 years), primary (5–11 years), secondary (12–17 years), higher education (18 and up) and post-graduate education. Students may also choose to register for homeschooling through an approved education provider. In some regions, notably Lainerovan Kadlara, students aged 16 or older can register for an exemption from compulsory education if they participate in vocational training such as an apprenticeship.
Public education is free at the point of use for all Veropan Union citizens, South Neviersian permanent residents and citizens or permanent residents of Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and Singapore. Other nationalities need to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees for higher education vary depending on region. Some regions provide tuition-free education for all residents, regardless of nationality. Others, such as Lainerovan Kadlara and Perth Country, only have select tuition-free education providers with specific criteria.
The Big Seven refers to the seven largest and most prestigious universities in the country, Darwinschtad and Adel both with two universities. In order of total enrollment, they are the University of Darwinschtad, Adel University, Davenport University, the University of Bondulagh, Darwinschtadzuid University, Port Andeagh University and Tunley University.
The academic year comprises four semesters, each lasting 10 weeks, starting between late January and early February. The responsibility of the education system ultimately lies with the Ministry of Education and Research, but leeway is provided between the regions concerning the national curriculum.
Urbanisation
This is a table showing the 20 largest urban areas of South Neviersia.
Largest cities and towns in South Neviersia
| ||||||||||
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Darwinschtad Adel |
Rank | City | Population | Rank | City | Population | Bondulagh Davenport | |||
1 | Darwinschtad | 5,479,000 | 11 | Vinidos | 228,000 | |||||
2 | Adel | 1,821,000 | 12 | Butler | 219,000 | |||||
3 | Bondulagh | 1,654,000 | 13 | Caerkorry | 214,000 | |||||
4 | Davenport | 1,223,000 | 14 | Rothlone | 189,000 | |||||
5 | Port Andeagh | 637,000 | 15 | Melway | 173,000 | |||||
6 | Claytorf | 492,000 | 16 | Helmmare | 171,000 | |||||
7 | Lormagh-Clouthdin | 418,000 | 17 | Kilbrinagh | 164,000 | |||||
8 | Strathlow | 377,000 | 18 | Otenova | 149,000 | |||||
9 | Zanzio | 261,000 | 19 | Bolton | 142,000 | |||||
10 | Port Mateagh | 231,000 | 20 | Clifton | 142,000 | |||||
South Neviersia is increasingly becoming more urbanised, with 44% of the population living in cities of 100,000 residents or more. The Big Four refers to the four largest metropolitan cities in South Neviersia: Darwinschtad, Adel, Bondulagh and Davenport. The capital and largest city, Darwinschtad, has an estimated urban population of over 6.1 million as of 2024 (not to be confused with the 'Schtaderland' Greater Metropolitan Area, adding up to 8.5 million residents), making it one of the largest urban areas in Veropa. The remaining three cities, Adel, Bondulagh and Davenport, have metropolitan populations of 3.5 million, 2.3 million and 2.7 million, respectively. Bondulagh's metropolitan population is smaller than Davenport's because of geographical constraints imposed by the Southern Kadlaran Ranges.
Culture
South Neviersia is a multiethnic country with significant European influences. Contemporary South Neviersian culture is largely influenced by immigration from the Netherlands, France and the British Isles. This is reflected in the city design and architecture in urban areas, fashion, music, theatre and cuisine. In more recent times, American, Asian and other European and Veropan cultures have shaped the culture of South Neviersia. A large emphasis is placed on the conservation of Lainerovan culture, through both policies and social movements.
South Neviersians typically enjoy around 12 public holidays each year. National Day takes place on 20 April, the day South Neviersia became independent from the UK (1946) and when the current constitution was ratified (1962). Toronfête is a nationwide Nevyirist holiday that takes place on 9 August and is celebrated by most citizens regardless of affiliation with Nevyirism. Lainerova Day (or Otenova Day) commemorates the day the Treaty of Otenova, which ended the Naming Conflict Wars, was signed and ratified. Other festivals include the annual Tipley Lake Parade in Northern Lainerova, the carnivals in County Dungarth and the Holy Pilgrimage in County Chadernozar.
Literature
South Neviersian literature primarily encompasses Lainerovan and European storytelling traditions, colonial legacies, poetry and Nevyirist mythology. The traditional Lainerovan script, combining pictographic and syllabic elements, served as a means of conveying ideas and folklore among early Lainerovans.
Written Lainerovan literature began to flourish following the standardisation of the Lainerovan language during the Renaissance of the 15th century, marked by the formation of the Kingdom of Lainerova after the consolidation of the various Lainerovan tribes. The standardisation of the language largely coincided with the translation of the Tusiku, the holy book of Nevyirism, from Rolmunavian to Lainerovan, following the introduction of the religion from Rolmunavis (modern-day Neviersia).
In 1965, Kael Ngiotahu was the first South Neviersian to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature and was renowned for his literary works on colonial and post-colonial politics, geography and psychology. Other noteworthy South Neviersian poets include Vincent Kalimantanham, Ivonne Onetoho, Isabelle Richards and James Iedonatu.
Media and entertainment
South Neviersian media is mostly distributed in Lainerovan étendard and South Neviersian English, though there are several other local outlets that provide media for linguistic minorities, such as TVLK, which provides a regional news channel in Kadlaran (Te Rova Kadlarach) in Lainerovan Kadlara. The independent YouTube channel SN Live! is a youth-oriented news network that uses "Lainglish", which could either be a blend of Lainerovan étendard and South Neviersian English or code-switching between the two languages. Most South Neviersians obtain news and information from television and the internet. In 2018, 94% of South Neviersians were internet users. There are numerous Lainerovan and English newspapers, including The Territorian, Durbanitetoron Daily, The Northern Lainers' and Network Kadlara. The Big Four cities each play a significant role in the media industry and have at least one major newspaper, such as Darwinschtad Herald, The Adelian, RÉ: BONDULAGH! and The Davenport Times.
The South Neviersian Broadcasting Corporation (SNBC), founded 1937, is the country's public broadcaster and is principally funded by grants from the South Neviersian Government, and is partly commercially funded through advertising. The SNBC has several free-to-air broadcasters such as SNBC 1 and SNBC 2, as well as Futūr and TV10. SN Air is an independent media organisation whose prime responsibility is funding and distributing South Neviersian television and internet media.
There are a large number of national, regional and local radio stations, public and private. The government-owned SNBC Radio operates Radio 1 and Radio 2. Rova FM and Pulso are the two most regularly followed independent radio stations nationwide.
Sport
Sport in South Neviersia predominantly reflects the country's British colonial heritage, with association football, rugby union and cricket being the most popular and followed sports. Association football is considered the national sport and is the most popular among young South Neviersians, with the South Neviersian national team and local teams like Darwinschtad United and Adel City achieving victory in domestic and international events. Rugby union is particularly popular in Lainerovan Kadlara. Out of the top ten most successful rugby union teams in South Neviersia, four come from Lainerovan Kadlara.
The South Neviersian Sports Commission is the government agency responsible for governing sport and recreation in South Neviersia, established in 2007. Other sports include cycling, running, surfing, fishing, tennis, golf, horse racing, and hockey, which attracts the most spectators in Northern Lainerova.
Cuisine
The cuisine of South Neviersia is diverse and mostly meat-based, featuring foods from many different cultures and backgrounds. Rice remains a staple in the mostly ethnic Lainerovan northern regions of the country and in most of southern South Neviersia to a lesser extent, whereas cassava is consumed more commonly in the drier Midland region. Seafood, including scallops, salmon, tuna, prawn and mussels, is mostly sourced from the southern and east coasts. The country's mostly subtropical climate allows for the production of tomato, sweet potato, capsicum, chilli, watermelon, papaya, passion fruit and mango.
Several European countries have exerted influence on South Neviersian culture, namely the United Kingdom, France and Spain. Lainerovan Kadlaran cuisine is partly characterised by the Filipino and other Southeast Asian immigrant communities who have introduced several dishes including adobo, nasi goreng, arroz caldo, Spanish bread and banh mi. Soda bread is produced mainly in the region's capital, Bondulagh, originating from Irish immigrant communities in the city.
The tropical Northern Lainerova lends to the high consumption of coffee in South Neviersia - one of the country's most consumed beverages. The city of Adel, often referred to as the "City of Wine", is best known for its wine, sourced from vineyards lying in valleys around Jondorophilly, Adelham and most of the central West Layners. South Neviersia is consequently one of the largest wine producers in southern Veropa.