LUTHIONIA

History

 

Luthionia’s history is short but eventful. After the coup in Belgium, in which King Philippe I was overthrown and replaced by right-wing politician Bart De Bever, many Belgian citizens weren’t happy with the new government. De Bever introduced new legislation, criminalising offences such as singing in public or leaning on benches. Finally the city of Leuven and its surroundings decided to declare independence from Belgium. Soon enough the international community recognized the newly founded state of Luthionia, but Belgium wouldn’t accept it. Only after the pressure from influential nations grew too large did De Bever relent and recognize Luthionia as an independent state.

 

Since Luthionia’s independence, its population has exploded. This is due to two large factors. After Luthionia’s independence there was much rejoicing, approximately nine months later followed by a baby boom. It also became a refuge for other Belgians fleeing Belgium’s new oppressive government. Especially this second factor has played an enormous role in the country’s rapidly increasing population. Soon the nation became one of the most densely populated countries in the world, and something had to be done. The state tried to buy Greenland off Denmark, but the deal got called off at the last moment due to public opinion, as nobody wanted to go and live in such a cold climate. Then it purchased some small islands in the Pacific, but nobody wanted to live there due to the heat, the insects and the isolation. Finally Luthionia managed to acquire a large and beautiful territory in Mazeria, and the majority of its population has now moved to these newly acquired lands.

 

Initially Luthionia’s capital was the city of Leuven, but due to the fact that the majority of Luthionians live in Mazerian Luthionia the decision was made to move the capital to this part of the country. A referendum was held, and Saculium was elected to be Luthionia’s new capital. As the city was basically still under construction, a large area was reserved for the building of the government headquarters, which have recently been completed.

 

Luthionia has done its best to integrate into Mazeria, and it can safely be said that this has been succesful. Recently the Treaty of Saculium wa signed, creating the Meridian Union. This makes Luthionia a member of the region's most powerful alliance. Luthionia has also forged strong bonds with other nations throughout the region. It has built a space station in cooperation with RS Dynasty, it has helped Impuesto when a civil war tore through the country, it has gone on joint missions with Borean troops... But of course not everything has gone smoothly, especially when Luthionia got involved in the Grand Conflict. Tensions rose at first between Luthionia and Azelia, when Prime Minister Devos was held hostage, and then between Luthionia and Minkal, when the latter unleashed a bioweapon upon its opponents. But all in all, Luthionia has become an important member of the regional community.

 

Geography

 

Area:

83 746 km²

Land boundaries:

1 012 km

Coastline:

1 129 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

European Luthionia: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Mazerian Luthionia: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain wind

Terrain:

European Luthionia: rolling hills

Mazerian Luthionia: flat coastal plains in south, rugged mountains in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Coast 0 m

highest point: Mount Alta 1 538 m

Natural resources:

oil, coal, iron ore, tungsten, lead, limestone, salt, clay, silica sand

Land use:

arable land: 26.36%

permanent crops: 0.83%

other: 72.81%

Irrigated land:

1 021 km²

Total renewable water resources:

80.6 km³

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

3.94 km³/yr (17%/80%/3%)

Natural hazards:

floods

Environment – current issues:

the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Environment – international agreements:

Endangered Species Protection, Responsible Offshore Drilling, Oil Tanker Standards Act, Renewable Research Commitment, Sustainable Fishing Act, Transboundary Water Use Act, Stopping Suicide Seeds, Reducing Automobile Emissions, Stopping Invasive Species, Uranium Mining Standards Act

 

People and Society

 

Nationality:

noun: Luthionian(s)

adjective: Luthionian

Ethnic groups:

Luthionian 86%, Belgian 7%, mixed or other 7%

Languages:

Dutch (official) 79%, French (official) 13%, English (official) 6%, other 2%

Religions:

atheist 56%, Roman Catholic 31%, other 13%

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.7%

15-24 years: 12.8%

25-54 years: 38.6%

55-64 years: 13.2%

65 years and over: 16.7%

Median age:

total: 40.3 years

male: 39.1 years

female: 41.4 years

Population growth rate:

1.13%

Birth rate:

11.72 births/1,000 population

Death rate:

8.52 deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate:

8.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Urbanization:

urban population: 80% of total population

rate of urbanization: 0.7% annual rate of change

Major urban areas – population:

SACULIUM 1 982 000; Alvoorde 1 435 000; Raanbeek 1 356 000; Westende 1 202 000; Leuven 1 025 000

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female

Mother's mean age at first birth:

28

Maternal mortality rate:

5 deaths/100,000 live births

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 5.09 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live birth

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.04 years

male: 77.13 years

female: 83.1 years

Total fertility rate:

1.67 children born/woman

Contraceptive prevalence rate:

70.9%

Health expenditures:

16.3% of GDP

Physicians density:

3.12 physicians/1,000 population

Hospital bed density:

7.1 beds/1,000 population

Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2%

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:

19.8%

Education expenditures:

16.1% of GDP

Literacy:

total population: 99%

male: 99%

female: 99%

 

Government

 

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Luthionia
conventional short form: Luthionia
local long form: Republiek Luthionië/République de Luthionie
local short form: Luthionië/Luthionie
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
Saculium
Administrative divisions:
2 regions: Mazerian Luthionia and European Luthionia
National holiday:
13 January (Independence Day)
Legal system:
civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sacul Nagrem
head of government: Prime Minister Birgitte nieuwburg; Deputy Prime Minister Deline Tew
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister
elections: President elected for a five-year term (no term limits) by direct popular vote; Prime Minister formally chosen by the President but determined by the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority; Deputy Prime Minister chosen by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (75 seats; 50 members directly elected by popular vote, 25 indirectly elected; members serve five-year terms) and a Chamber of Representatives or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Representatives elected for a five-year term
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French (consists of 12 judges); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch and Cour de Cassation in French (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each with a chairperson and 12 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the President from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life; Supreme Court judges appointed by the President from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 25-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional courts; justices of the peace
Political parties:
Christian Democratic and Luthionian or CD&L
Luthionian Liberal Democrats or LLD
Groen!
The Communist Party or CP
Luthionian Nationalistic and Patriotic Union or LNPU
Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A
Conservative Luthionia or CL
other minor parties
Flag description:
green with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side
National symbol(s):
wild boar, book
National anthem:
"Freedom"

 

Economy

 

GDP:
$889.3 billion
GDP – real growth rate:
1.3%
GDP – per capita:
$34 200
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 22.3%
services: 76.5%
Agriculture - products:
sugar beets, potatoes, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain; beef, pork, milk; fish
Industries:
machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, scientific instruments, other consumer goods
Unemployment rate:
12.4%
Population below poverty line:
6.9%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 22%
Budget:
revenues: $639.1 billion
expenditures: $626.4 billion
Public debt:
91% of GDP
Inflation rate:
1.9%
Exports:
$103.7 billion
Exports – partners:
Impuesto 15.2%, RS Dynasty 14.9%, Germany 13.3%, UKCB 12.5%, UK 10.3%, France 10.2%, Belgium 9.8%
Imports:
$111.7 billion
Imports – partners:
RS Dynasty 15.9%, Germany 14.9%, Impuesto 12.9%, France 11.0%, UK 10.4%, US 9.7%, UKCB 8.1%
Exchange rates:
merges (₥) per US dollar – 2.6717

 

Energy

 

Electricity - production:
73.2 billion kWh 
Electricity - consumption:
65.8 billion kWh
Electricity - exports:
17.7 billion kWh
Electricity - imports:
26.9 billion kWh 
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
21.3 million kW 
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
49.5% of total installed capacity
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
23.5% of total installed capacity
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
19.9% of total installed capacity
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
98.4 million Mt

 

Communications

 

Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone facilities
domestic: nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: country code – 13
Broadcast media:
more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV systems that provide a wide range of domestic and foreign channels; public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 2 with a national reach and the remainder operating in regional and local markets; 2 major nationwide commercial television companies, each with 3 or more stations, and many commercial TV stations in regional and local markets; nearly 500 radio stations with a mix of public and private stations providing national or regional coverage
Internet country code:
.lut

 

Transportation

 

Airports:
37
Heliports:
2
Pipelines:
gas 4,325 km; oil 746 km; refined products 190 km
Railways:
6 154 km
Roadways:
111 236 km
Waterways:
1 352 km
Merchant marine:
total: 94
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 29, carrier 1, chemical tanker 19, container 7, liquefied gas 5, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 8
foreign-owned: 66 (Arkotza 2, Glakaw 3, Guandmare 8, UKCB 17, Khorrenia 1, The Mazeria Directorate 4, Milroman 6, Pouksland 1, RS Dynasty 19, Tannarabia 4, Terebithia 1)
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Westende, Saculium, Tervaal, Aster
river port(s): Raanbeek
container port(s): Tervaal

 

Military

 

Military branches:
Luthionian Armed Forces: Land Force, Naval Force, Air Force
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP

 

Transnational Issues

 

Disputes – international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
stateless persons: 567