Helmenland

Republic of Helmenland Helmenmaan tasavalta (Helmish)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Aseisiin, Helmenmaa!" "To arms, Helmenland!"
Anthem: "Vapauden hetki" "The hour of freedom"
Capital and largest city	Matinlinna
Official languages	Helmish
Ethnic groups (2020)	71.1% Sekoitettu 15.8% !European 8.3% !African 1.2% Indigenous 3.6% Other
Demonym(s)	Helmish
Government	Federal presidential republic
• President	Joonas Korpela
Legislature	Kansankokous
Independence from X
• Declared	19 June 1771
• Recognized	12 April 1782
• Current constitution	20 October 1979
Area
• Total	2,536,333 km2 (979,284 sq mi)
Population
• 2020 census	80,230,948
• Density	31.6/km2 (81.8/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2022 estimate
• Total	$2.243 trillion
• Per capita	$27,963
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	$1.243 trillion
• Per capita	$15,494
Gini (2022)	41.9 medium
HDI (2022)	0.852 very high
Currency	Helmish markka (HLM)
Time zone	UTC-1
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right

Helmenland (Helmish: Helmenmaa), officially the Republic of Helmenland (Helmish: Helmenmaan tasavalta), is a sovereign state in eastern !America. The nation shares a land border with X to the northeast, and maritime borders with X and X to the southeast and south respectively. The X Ocean runs along its northern and western coasts, while the Helmish Gulf lies to the southeast. Helmenland's capital and largest city is Matinlinna, with other major cities including Kirkasvesi, Avai, Uusiranta, and Kalfunao. With a population of approximately 80 million and spanning an area of 2,536,333 square kilometers, Helmenland is the Xth most populous and Xth largest state in Teleon.

Indigenous !Americans began to settle continental Helmenland at least 12,000 years ago.  Matti Kapanen became the first !European to explore the region in 1504, claiming it for X. Xian colonists established extensive sugarcane plantations in Helmenland throughout the 17th century, leading to the formation of an aristocratic class of wealthy landowners.  X annexed the colony during the X and began a process of X, alienating the Helmish aristocracy and leading to the Helmish War of Independence in 1771. After eleven years of war, X recognized Helmenland's independence and withdrew its forces in 1782. The newly independent country quickly descended into internal turmoil, and did not experience a peaceful transition of power for the first four decades of its existence due to frequent rebellions and military coups. In addition, the central government fought a protracted series of interconnected conflicts against indigenous tribes in the Helmish interior that lasted until 1811. The country's political and economic situation stabilized somewhat during the 1810s under President Ville Järvinen, who ushered in a period of industrialization and economic growth that lasted into the middle of the 19th century. The Panic of 1845 interrupted Helmenland's economic expansion, leading to a military takeover led by General Teemu Mäkelä.  Mäkelä's regime stabilized the nation' economy, but failed to revive the explosive growth of previous decades. In 1878, Helmenland was forced to cede Sokerinsaari and Myrskysatama to X after nearly two years of war, resulting in the collapse of Mäkelä's regime.

The country remained under civilian rule through the turn of the century, experiencing a second economic boom that turned Helmenland into one of the wealthiest nations in !America and attracted significant numbers of new immigrants from Euclea. As a consequence of its rapid economic growth, the Recession of 1924 hit Helmenland particularly hard. The crash resulted in a breakdown of the nation's institutions, plunging it into a prolonged and destructive civil war.  The country emerged from the conflict in 1930 under the rule of President Risto Saari, a populist who introduced reforms to benefit the working class.  Helmenland joined the Y Powers during the Great War as a consequence of its alliance with Darona, successfully repatriating Sokerinsaari and Myrskysatama from X at the end of the conflict.  Saari remained in power for several years after the war, until he was overthrown by a group of dissident military officers in 1944.  A succession of military regimes, punctuated by brief and unstable periods of civilian rule, continued until the current constitution was adopted in 1979.  During the 1980s and 90s, a series of Liberal Democratic administrations introduced neoliberal policies that reinvigorated the economy, and today the nation ranks among the wealthiest in !America.

Modern Helmenland is a developed country, boasting a high-income economy that ranks highly in measures of human development, economic freedom, and standard of living. The nation is a regional leader in sociopolitical stability, with low perceived corruption and strong democratic institutions. Helmenland is a founding member of the World Community, X, and X, and has taken an increasingly active role in the international community since the late 20th century. Due to its rapidly growing influence on the world stage, Helmenland is frequently considered to be an emerging great power.