Earth, often referred to as Planet Earth, is the capital and most populous planet of the United Earth Federation. As a federal territory, Earth is not administered by an autonomous colonial government; rather, the Earthen Government controls the planet directly. The planet consists entirely of an ecumenopolis - the entire land surface of Earth is covered by one continuous urban area - with a population of 89 billion. Being the federal capital as well as the original homeworld of the human race (the UEF's largest population group), Earth is considered to be a planet of immense cultural and political importance.