Statistical thinking will one day be as necessary a qualification for efficient citizenship as the ability to read and write.

Background of the island:

While retaining its time-honored culture, Carson rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its absorption of nearly every culture on the planet, Carson became a melting pot tradeing post of nearly evert country on the globe. Carson Bay has come to be an economic power and but remains neutral in world affairs. While the Admiral retains his seat as a powerful figure in politics and the Navy, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and corporate mob families. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth. Towards the 2000 years, the economy has picked back up, and is going along smoothly.

Location:

Carson Bay is a body of water that encompases a chain of about 60 islands that vary in size. Only 13 of these islands are of any importance, and 2 of them remain unihabitated. The largest island in the chain is Carson City, and is the seat of the country.

Area:

total: 39,320 sq km

water: 20,050 sq km

land: 18,270 sq km

Area - comparative:

somewhat larger then New Jersey

Climate: Tropical

Terrain: Gentle mountains of volcanic origin, low valleys, some swamps/jungles.

Natural Resources: timber, fish, hydropower, offshore oil rigs

land Use:

arable land: 12.13%

permanent crops: 1.01%

other: 86.86% (1998 est.)

Natural Hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

Environment hazards: air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Carson is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber

Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources
, Antarctic Seals
, Antarctic Treaty
, Biodiversity
, Climate Change
, Desertification
, Endangered Species
, Environmental Modification
, Hazardous Wastes
, Law of the Sea
, Marine Dumping
, Nuclear Test Ban
, Ozone Layer Protection
, Ship Pollution
, Tropical Timber 83
, Tropical Timber 94
, Wetlands
, Whaling

Population: 5 million (est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.4%

15-64 years: 67%

65 years and over: 18.6%

Median age:

total: 42 years

male: 40.3 years

female: 43.8 years (2002)

Population growth rate:

0.11% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:

10.72 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:

23.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

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

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male: 3.56 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.93 years

male: 77.63 years

female: 84.41 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.38 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

12,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

430 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

Based around each individual persons own Nationality. Otherwise considered a resident of Carson Bay.

Ethnic groups:

Too mixed to record.

Religions:

observe either Muslim, Jewish and/or Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

Languages:

Mostly English. No established native language.

Literacy:

definition: age 14 and over can read and write

total population: 99% (1995 est.)

conventional long form: The Peoples Republic of the Carson Archipelo

conventional short form: Carson Bay

Government type:

constitutional democracy with a parliamentary government

Capital:

Carson City

Independence:

1763 A.D. November 22nd (Spain gives up the island)

National holiday:

Death of Admiral Alexander, 12 October (1818)

Constitution:

6 August 1789

Legal system:

modeled after European civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Chancellors Circle; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Flag description:

Black field with a teal disk surronded by 12 smaller orbs.

Telephones - main lines in use:

60.381 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

63.88 million (2000)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service

domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind

international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Mediterranean Sea), 1 Intersputnik (Mediterranean Sea region), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea regions);

submarine cables to Africa, the Philippines, Russia, and US

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 215 plus 370 repeaters, FM 89 plus 485 repeaters, shortwave 21

(2001)

Television broadcast stations:

211 plus 7,341 repeaters

Internet country code:

.rcb

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

73 (2000)

Alexander Shade and Murder Doll