Visargia

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Republic of Visargia
Flag of Visargia
Flag
Capital
and largest city
Kiem
Official languagesVisargian
Ethnic groups
(2015)
Visargian (87.7%)
Other (12.3%)
Demonym(s)Visargian
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary republic
• President
Axhnar Matzenk
• Prime Minister
Hanuske Klebenk
LegislatureNational Council
Unification of Visargia
Area
• Total
766,016 km2 (295,760 sq mi)
Population
• 2019 estimate
72,818,038
• Density
95.06/km2 (246.2/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)2020 estimate
• Total
$3,625,221,910,000
• Per capita
$49,613
CurrencyVisargine Hlinder (HLN)

Visargia, officially the Republic of Visargia, is a sovereign state in the north of Thuadia. It is bordered to the north by the Rimidic Ocean, to the northwest by Nerany, to the east by Apple Landia, to the south by Empty Land and Kistolia, and to the west by Anderum. The country has an area of 766,016 square kilometers with a population of 72.82 million according to the most recent estimates. The capital is Kiem, which also serves as one of the key economic and cultural hubs of the nation. Other major cities include Barinze, Dretnem, Ersin, and Heimkar.

The modern state of Visargia was formed gradually through the union of three main entities, the Duchy of the Hofesar, the Kingdom of Wahelin, and the Kingdom of Patajania. Wahelin and Patajania would unite under one ruler by the early 17th century whilst the Hofesar would join the union by the end of the 17th century. Visargia had a long tradition of monarchism prior to the Visargine Revolution of 1918-19, which would see the Emperor flee the country and renounce the throne, with the first Republican government coming to fruition in the aftermath.

Visargia is a unitary state operating under a parliamentary republic. The President serves as a ceremonial head of state for the most part with some powers reserved for them as a check on the parliament and the executive. The Government is led by the Prime Minister who is appointed by the President on the advice of the National Council, usually by a majority vote approving them to form the government. The Ministers are then appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The country's highest court and final court of appeals is the 15-member Chief Court.

History

Geography

Government and Politics

Political Parties

Political party Main ideology Position Leader Seats
National Council Regional Councils Local Government
MPV File:.png Mutualist Party Reformed Mutualism Centre-left Visje Tredromt
180 / 485
508 / 1,550
2,048 / 7,575
VPP File:.png Visargian People's Party Liberal conservatism Centre-right Hanuske Klebenk
141 / 485
528 / 1,550
2,360 / 7,575
SOA File:.png Sobelian Alliance Sobelian democracy Centre-right Visje Tredromt
41 / 485
98 / 1,550
737 / 7,575
PAU File:.png Patajanian Agrarion Union Regionalism Right-wing Visje Tredromt
39 / 485
153 / 1,550
686 / 7,575
PBV File:.png Party of the Left Democratic Mutualism Left-wing Visje Tredromt
32 / 485
89 / 1,550
548 / 7,575
LPT File:.png Liberty Party Liberalism Centre Visje Tredromt
28 / 485
47 / 1,550
148 / 7,575
HLD File:.png Homeland Party Visargian Nationalism Far right Visje Tredromt
18 / 485
57 / 1,550
348 / 7,575
CPV File:.png Collectivist Party of Visargia Collectivism Far left Visje Tredromt
6 / 485
43 / 1,550
233 / 7,575

Administrative Divisions

11 Regions 91 Counties

Economy

Skyline of the Commerce District in Kiem, the capital city. It is the leading business hub in Visargia.

Since the 1950s, Visargia has developed a high-income economy which has been characterised by varied levels of government involvement, focus on an educated highly skilled workforce, high innovation and a diverse economy with multiple strong industries. The service sector represents roughly 65% of the country's economic output and 60.5% of the country's employed workforce, manufacturing and industry accounts for roughly 33.5% of economic output and 37% of the employed workforce and agriculture accounts for roughly 1.5% of economic output and 2.5% of the employed workforce. Despite agriculture making up a small amount of national economic output Visargia is still largely self-sufficient in food production and the agricultural sector has received strong government support in the name of the national interest.

The government of Visargia has traditionally aimed for low employment as a key matter of national policy, however, this was ignored under some governments in the interest of controlling inflation. According to 2021 estimates from the government, unemployment currently stands at around 5.2%, although youth unemployment is considerably higher at around 11.7%. Since 1950, unemployment peaked at 13.8% in 1983 and was at its lowest point of 2.7% in 1971. Unemployment had dropped considerably in recent years due to a loosening of some of the tight government regulations put in place for employers. However, this decline has stagnated somewhat recently.

Visargia's economic growth since the mid 20th century has led to a number of Visargian companies developing notable domestic and international brand profiles. Some of these major brands include 7 Star Shipping Line, AeroVis, FBH Bank, KEMA, Kestinke Orynke, Nortzup Bank and OZIN.

Demography

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1800 13,671,890—    
1830 18,489,952+35.2%
1860 26,537,989+43.5%
1890 37,121,462+39.9%
1900 40,291,635+8.5%
1920 45,656,034+13.3%
1930 48,110,046+5.4%
1940 50,835,480+5.7%
1950 52,169,911+2.6%
1959 55,969,996+7.3%
1969 60,243,395+7.6%
1979 63,078,240+4.7%
1989 64,391,997+2.1%
1999 67,053,651+4.1%
2009 69,847,834+4.2%
2019 72,818,038+4.3%
Source: Ministry of the Interior

Visargia is home to an 72.82 million people according to the most recent census, in 2019, with that number now estimated to have surpassed 73 million. The country's population saw a particular boom from the start of the 19th century until the mid 20th century with the population tripling between 1800 and 1950. The country's primary ethnic group are the Visargines who make up for an estimated 87% of the population according to the most recent census. The country has seen a rise in the number of immigrants since the 1950s with a notable part of the country's population growth since then being due to these immigrants.

Visargia's birth rate currently stands at around 11.2 births per 1000 women per year, this number has been in continual decline since the mid 19th century with a particular decline since the 1960s with the birth rate declining from 18.8 births per 1000 women in 1964 to 11.2 births per 1000 women in 2020. In 2021, 813,075 babies were born in Visargia, the lowest number since 2002. Some of the decline has been accredited to a rise in working women as well as the expense of raising children in the country today.

Urbanisation

Religion

Religion in Visargia in 2019.

  Sobelianity (75.8%)
  Agnosticism & Atheism (10.4%)
  Kanosticism (5.2%)
  Others (8.6%)

Sobelianity has been the dominant faith in the current Visargian lands since the 6th century and first began to rise to prominence in the 3rd century. Prior to that Kanosticism was the dominant religion. With the rise of Sobelianity, Kanosticism was mainly pushed into the countryside & remained the main religion in the southern lands of the Hofesar & the Alemsar until the 14th century when the 1371 Kiem Decree by the Grand Duke of the Hofesar led to the something Campaign to spread Sobelianity to the countryside of the Grand Duchy as the staunch religiousness of the Sobelian population in Kiem and Loyset became even stronger and led to demands to wipe out what was seen as a threat. In the lands of the Wahelin and the Patajania Sobelianity had began to dominate much earlier with a large majority of the population having converted by the 10th century. In the 8th century the first buildings of the Grand Rodary of Jenispat were constructed in Wahelin, over time various monarchs would add new buildings to the Rodary and it would come to be viewed as one of the spiritual centres of Sobelianity. Other major religious buildings include the Kiem Rodary, the Rovanem Rodary and the Orsak Rodary.

Today, Sobelianity retains an important role in Visargian society as the largest religion in the country by far, with almost 76% of the population claiming to follow the religion. The church is affiliated with a large number of the nations schools, although these schools are ran independently with their own headteachers and governors boards. Among those who profess to follow the faith around 12% claim to attend the Rodary weekly, amounting to more than 6.5 million people. Attendance is particularly high amongst the elderly but youth attendance tends to fair better than the major religions in many other nations. Donations to the many Sobelian charities, which assist those in need globally, are also high with the charities having considerable funds to carry out their work.

Kanosticism continues to have many followers in Visargia, just over 5% of the population. The main population centre for the religion is Kiem and the Hofesar-Alemia region. The religion has also seen a revival since the 1970s with many people converting, sometimes as a form of rebellion against the power of Sobelianity. Agnostics and Atheists make up over 10% of Visargia's population and have seen a large amount of growth in recent years, with some speculating their numbers could be much higher due to people "just ticking the box for Sobelianity" on government forms and surveys. Other religions which haven't traditionally been popular within Visargia have also seen a rise since the 1950s, with immigration being a large driver for this. The rise of the internet and a more connected world has also allowed more people access to non-traditional religions.

Freedom of religion is guaranteed under the Visargian constitution with laws against religious discrimination having also been passed by the National Council. Sobelianity retains the special status of a Nationally Important Faith which has allowed for Sobelian affiliated schools to remain operating. There is some criticism over the government being more accommodating for Sobelianity than other religions.

Language

Education

The main building of the University of Barinze, one of Visargia's most prestigious universities.

In 1163, the University of Orsak was founded by King Vrytskaus II of Wahelin and this is widely considered to be the first university in modern-day Visargia. Other major univerisities such as those in Kiem, Barinze and Ersin would be founded between the 12th and 15th century. The development of public education in Visargia gained great pace in the 1860s with Royal Councillor and social reformer Vyzlar Blersvant being a key proponent. Starting from 1863, all male children under the age of 10 would be required to attend public education whilst large numbers of high schools were founded for the children of the well-off to gain greater access to education. Many of these newly founded schools would be affiliated with the Sobelian Church which included religious teachings as a core part of their curriculum.

Today, education in Visargia is controlled, regulated and mostly funded by the state at a national level. Education is divded into three stages, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. Primary education starts at age 5 and runs through to age 12, Secondary education runs from age 12 to age 18, and tertiary education is for all students who are 18 and older. The government runs 91% of the Primary and Secondary educational institutions in Visargia whilst universities are ran independently, although under heavy government regulation. Primary and Secondary education is fully-funded by the government with government-funded school places available for every child living in Visargia, citizen or not. The choice to send children to private primary and secondary schools is also available for all parents, though not encouraged.

Tertiary education in Visargia is fully funded by the state with funds raised through a graduate tax of 3% on all income above a certain threshold for all people who have attended university. Prior to 1997 tertiary education had to be self-funded by the student, with some government grants given, but reform by the government abolished this system and introduced the graduate tax. Those who left university prior to 1997 are not required to pay the tax whilst those who have graduated since are required to pay the tax. Students who attended university whilst the system was being put in to place pay a reduced rate of the tax. Non-citizen students must pay to attend Visargian universities so that they cannot avoid the tax afterwards.

The quality of education in Visargia is often regarded as high with praise for the governments focus on core skills and a recent focus on giving assistance to children with additional barriers to their learning, such as disabilities. There has been some criticism over the continued role of the Sobelian church in the education system, with 44% of primary schools and 35% of secondary schools being affiliated to the Church. A lot of the criticism also stems from the long standing government policy of refusing to allow other religions to set up schools in the country.

Healthcare

The New Hospital, in Dretnem, is one of the largest hospitals in Visargia.

Healthcare in Visargia is largely funded by the government through the National Medical Care Provider (NMCP). The NMCP gains the overwhelming majority of it's funding through taxes with additional income raised from foreign citizens being able to pay for elective procedures in it's hospitals. All citizens and permanent residents of Visargia will recieve an NMCP card upon turning 16, although this is not required to gain access to treatment. The card is mainly used to allow those with it to gain access to their medical records online. No card is needed for those aged under 16 as their medical records are legally allowed to be seen only by licensed professionals. Citizens are free to use private medical providers, although there is no reimbursement for those that do.

One particular challenge that the healthcare system has faced in recent years has been the rise in obesity in Visargia. This has placed a strain on some of the NMCP's systems and has led to large government-led efforts to try to reduce the rate of obesity in Visargia. There has been a particular focus on the young as part of this program. The government has also introduced taxes on products containing large amount of sugar in an attempt to discourage their purchase, although they have been criticised for disproportionately affecting the poorest members of society by doing so.

Overall, Visargia has a strong healthcare system that provides for residents and has led to an increasing life expectancy as a result. The ageing population has led to an increase in funding being required to deal with the effects which has led to some questions over the viability of the country's healthcare system in the future.

Culture

Art

Music

Sport

The most popular sport in Visargia is Football with the Vitsligi being the nations premier football league. The most successful teams include SK Dretnem, ASK Barinze, Sebonia Kiem, Veseuria Kiem and SK Rovanem each with hundreds of thousands of fans across the country.

Television