South Neviersia

South Neviersia Nevyirchézuid (Lainerovan étendard) Lainerova (Terova Lainer)
Flag
Motto: "Forger de pathe minne venturait." "To forge the path less travelled."
Anthem: "Oh Lainerova!"
Capital and largest city	Darwinschtad
Official languages	Lainerovana English
Recognised regional languages	Kadlaran Rolmunavian Helessiman Tchaderno Dungarter
Ethnic groups (2024)	47.06% Lainerovan/Lainer 36.45% European 10.04% Asian 4.65% Pacific peoples 3.46% ME/LA/African 2.75% Other 2.65% No answerb
Religion (2024)	37.8% No religion 32.5% Nevyirism 14.3% Christianity 3.3% Hinduism 2.1% Buddhism 1.9% Islam 3.7% Other 4.4% No answer
Demonym(s)	South Neviersian Lainerovan
Government	Unitary semi-presidential republic
• President	Chris Demagh-Wyvern
• Prime Minister	Tiōran Umiōngardi
• President 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
• Current constitution	20 April 1949
• Treaty of Otenova	8 September 1959
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
Internet TLD	.sn
Written Lainerovan étendard and Terova Lainer Ethnicity figures add to more than 100% as people could choose more than one ethnic group.

South Neviersia (Lainerovan étendard: Nevyirchézuid), also called Lainerova, is a unitary republic in southern Veropa. It is bordered to the north and north-east by Neviersia (Rolmunavis), 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 775,716 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 Terova 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 (Rolmunavis) 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 (Rolmunavis), 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 (Rolmunavis).

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 Lainies/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

Polities, kingdoms and empires founded in pre-European Lainerova between the 9th and 13th centuries include Korry, Dungart, Davenio, Etiranga, Macairt, Averia and Tiplich.

[Various kingdoms (Korry, Kadlara, Dungarth, Ture, Kesolia, Neviersia, Lainerova (1200s–1600s)]

Geography

South Neviersia is located in southern central Veropa, sharing land borders with Manima across the Kadlaran Ranges to the west; Neviersia (Rolmunavis) 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 775,716 sq km2 (299,505 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 (Rolmunavis); 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.

Government and politics

The South Neviersian parliament is located in Darwinschtad, the country's capital and most populous city. South Neviersia is a unitary semi-presidential republic.

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 (Rolmunavis) 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

Since 1981, South Neviersia has been divided into 9 administrative regions and one territorial administrative county. The regions are further subdivided into 80 administrative counties, most of which correspond to the boundaries of the 58 traditional counties. The 80 administrative counties are subdivided into districts (sometimes called municipalities), which are, in turn, subdivided into wards.

The administrative county of Isles of Macarthur, historically part of County Darwin, is distinct in that it is not part of any regional jurisdiction (in this case, Isles of Macarthur is not part of Greater Darwin) and is instead subject to that of the national government, hence making it a "territorial" administrative county. However, its population is still counted in the Greater Darwin Statistical Area.

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.

One easy way to remember the regions of South Neviersia that students are often taught in school is by remembering the acronym mnemonic "Every Great Lighthouse Makes Navigating Possible Through The Unknown".

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 (Rolmunavis).

The largest source of immigration comes from Veropan nations, particularly Acria, Ivelboria, Neviersia (Rolmunavis) 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 47.06% of South Neviersians identifying as Lainerovan/Lainer, 36.45% as European, 10.04% Asian, 4.65% Pacific Islander, 3.46% ME/LA/African (Middle Eastern, Latin American or African) and 2.75% as another ethnic group, with 2.65% 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 Terova 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. Kadlara 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 (Rolmunavis), 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.

Largest cities

Largest cities or towns in South Neviersia (SN Statistics 2024 estimate)

Rank	Name	Region	Population	Rank	Name	Region	Population
1	Darwinschtad	Greater Darwin	5,479,000	11	Vinidos	The Durbanites	228,000
2	Adel	The West Layners	1,821,000	12	Butler	The Durbanites	219,000
3	Bondulagh	Lainerovan Kadlara	1,654,000	13	Caerkorry	East Coast	214,000
4	Davenport	The Durbanites	1,223,000	14	Rothlone	Midland	189,000
5	Port Andeagh	The Durbanites	637,000	15	Melway	Lainerovan Kadlara	173,000
6	Claytorf	The Durbanites	492,000	16	Helmmare	The Durbanites	171,000
7	Lormagh-Clouthdin	Lainerovan Kadlara	418,000	17	Kilbrinagh	Upper Norlands	164,000
8	Strathlow	The Durbanites	377,000	18	Otenova	The Durbanites	149,000
9	Zanzio	The Durbanites	261,000	19	Bolton	Greater Darwin	142,000
10	Port Mateagh	The West Layners	231,000	20	Clifton	The West Layners	142,000

Culture

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 (1949). 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.