Sandea

Sandea (산댜; formally 산댜코쿠, Sandya-koku ) is a country located in East Asia, specifically in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, extending from the. It is comprised of three islands, each consisting of three provinces. Kyoban is the nation's capital and largest city; other major cities include Geonyu, Hegoku, Kondao, and Nakongi.

The Sandean archipelago was inhabited as early as the 2nd century AD, as stated by various historical texts. From the late 4th century to the late 11th or early 12th century, the land was split into three separate kingdoms, which were unified to become what is now referred to as the Sandean Empire. In 1897, the empire became a of the, a relationship that came to an end in 1910 after , and as a result, Sandea became an independent republic.

Sandea is a highly developed country and a, as well as a member of numerous international organizations, including the , , Twelve Republics, Power Nine, and Asia Six, as well as the fourth-largest country by nominal GDP. Sandea has also been renowned for its contributions to science and technology. In the 21st century, thanks to a phenomenon known as the Sandean Wave, Sandean popular culture has garnered international attention, particularly Sandea's animation (aenimo), comics (hwaman), cinema, music (S-pop), and television dramas (S-dramas).

Demographics
Sandea has a population of 178.1 million, and roughly 168.5 million of them are Sandean nationals. The country is a homogenous society, as ethnic Sandean people make up about 89% of the national population. Minorities include, the indigenous Tongyong and Saeban people, Koreans, Chinese people, and Thai people.

As of 2023, more than 49% of the population of Sandea is over the age of 65. The country's is 46.8, the fourth-highest in the world according to the. The country's population is expected to drop to 98 million by 2070 because a growing number of younger Sandeans are not marrying or having children.

Languages
Sandean and are the official languages of Sandea. Sandean has been used since its creation in the 1590s. English became commonplace in the 1960s, and has since become ubiquitous, being adopted English as an official language by the national government in 2000. Sandean Sign Language is an officially recognized sign language system that originated and is used in Sandea.

Sandean uses an indigenous writing system called, which is also used in the. Much of the Sandean language is comprised of Korean loanwords that have been reversed or rearranged in some way, though it also contains "original words" made entirely by the Sandean people. English is often thought as a second language in middle school, high school, and sometimes even college.

Religion
The Sandean constitution grants full religious freedom. Several studies have shown that since the mid-1990s, the majority of Sandeans have identified as irreligious, and the number is increasing. However, many Sandean people have subscribed to Kongsong, and the vast majority of the country's population recognize it as the indigenous religion. Participation in Kongsongan ceremonies as a cultural tradition remains high, especially during festivals and major occasions such as the first gifting of the Sandean New Year.

Education
Compulsory education in Sandea is comprised of six years of, three years of , and four years of. The country's three top-ranking schools are the University of Kyoban, Kensobu University, and Gopanki University.