EXPO 2011 | Cattala

:starwars:

Welcome to the final part of the Cattalian Pavillion at the Atlantic Federation Expo, 2011. We're going to summarise the nation in a few images loaded with figures so that you get a very brief overview of the country that we've been exploring over the past month.



Cattala is a constitutional monarchy - it has a hereditary monarch as a head of state, but she doesn't have many powers, unlike absolute monarchs, like the King of Saudi Arabia.



The capital city, and third largest city, is Celeste. It was built by the Celestine family, the previous royal house, between the 11th century and 1814. The city is the centre of Cattala's politics, as well as the home of most embassies, consulates and government offices.



However the largest city is Jennai, with over a million residents. It was founded by the Tyrheni family in the medieval period, and has now grown to become the powerhouse of the island's economy. Jennai is home to Cattala's largest ports, is served by two motorways and two A-roads, is the densest province and home to most of the country's important financial services sector.



The current monarch is Queen Alexandra the Fifth. She has been on the throne since 1994, following the death of her grandmother Queen Elizabeth. Alexandra was Cattala's youngest ever Queen, at the age of 19, and her heir apparent is Crown Prince Edward, her eldest child, once he reaches the age of 18. Until then, her sister Gabriella would act as Regent in the case of Her Grace's incapacity or death. You can read more about her and her family in previous expo updates.



Now for an important announcement. Following many conversations and nights of deliberation (really!), I have decided to raise Cattala's population to 4.2 million, instead of the 2.8 million that it has been for nearly a year now. I haven't taken this decision lightly, as many of you know. I've looked at statistics from the region, studied area charts and density maps, and decided that this is a more realistic population for the country.
Thank you to Julien for helping to persuade me, and for Daniel, Greg and Neil's assistance in the decision process.



Being a devoutly Christian island, Cattala has always been deeply loyal to the Catholic Church. Following the Roman Inquisition in the late 16th century, Cattala's national church broke away from the main Roman Catholic Church following disagreements over the punishments handed out to heretics in Malta, Cattala and Italy. The head of the Church of Cattala became the Divina Anima Della Chiesa, and all members of the Royal Family pledge fealty to the national Church. Since the end of World War Two, the Cattalian Church has become closer to the Roman Catholic Church again and some scholars believe the two faiths are now in "partial communion" with each other.



Cattala's mainland is the largest Mediterranean island, being slightly larger than Sicily and the nation as a whole is considerably larger when including Roumeli and Hellas Provinces. Cattala has a population density of 127 people per square kilometre, and is the 89th densest nation on earth.



Cattala's currency is the Ainero, although the Sterlina is still in use in rural areas, is a recognised currency and the reserve currency of Cattala. Due to the Ainero only recently being introduced, the Sterlina could theoretically be re-circulated with immediate effect thanks to the Government and Bank of Cattala having billions of sterlina currency stored.



Cattala's nominal GDP in 2010 was the 57th highest in the world, between Hungary, New Zealand and Bangladesh depending on sources. Government debt is roughly 48% of 2010's GDP at this time, and that is currently falling by 1% per year.



The GDP per capita in 2010 was the 27th highest in the world, between Spain and Israel. It is the highest per capita GDP of all independent Mediterranean islands - therefore excluding Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia.



Following the new system of working out HDI, Cattala's comes in at 0.863, which is a very high rating. This is the joint 20th highest Human Development Indicator, alongside that of Spain. HDI is highest in predominantly urban provinces, such as Amosseri and Fieranti, and lowest in Hellas and Roumeli provinces.



Find out more about Cattala in our City Journal area, as well as on the new Union Wiki and feel free to PM or Skype me if you have any questions about this expo pavillion or Cattala in general.

Thomas