Kistan

Kistan is a fictional landlocked sovereign state commonly used in comparative studies and world-building. It lies on the central plateau of the continent of Aleria and is bordered by Norum to the north, Valis to the south, and Erona to the east.

The name Kistan derives from the common suffix -stan, meaning land or place of. The official language is Kistani, a fictitious language related to the Central Highlands language family; minority languages such as Norani and Valic are spoken in some regions.

Geographically, Kistan features a mix of high mountains in the east, highland plateaus, and broad river valleys in the west. The country covers about 420,000 square kilometers and is predominantly inland, with a temperate to semi-arid climate in the eastern and southern areas. Biodiversity includes temperate forests and steppe grasslands.

Historically, the region consisted of rival principalities before unification in the medieval era. Modern Kistan emerged as an independent republic following a peaceful transition in 1990, and it has since developed a stable constitutional framework.

Politically, Kistan is a unitary parliamentary republic. The President serves as head of state, and the Prime Minister chairs the government. The unicameral National Assembly has 200 seats elected by proportional representation for four-year terms; administrative divisions comprise seven provinces.

Economically, Kistan maintains a mixed economy with agriculture, textiles, mining, and services as major sectors. The currency is the Kistani dinar (KID); the central bank oversees monetary policy. Major exports include textiles and agricultural products; imports focus on machinery and fuel.

Demographically, Kistan has about 16 million residents, with a plurality ethnic group and several minorities. Urban areas house roughly half the population. Society emphasizes family and community, with cultural traditions expressed in music, crafts, and regional festivals.