The Sand Country was a country that rose from the ends of the desert situated to the east of the Empire.
This country was ruled by the Sacred Fire Order, and although it was called the Sand Country, it was an aggregation of countless tribes, ethnicities, and small countries.
The size of the entire Sand Country was about double that of the Empire. However, as most of the regions were situated in a desert environment where it was hard to survive, the Sand Country's population, resources, and capabilities were all inferior to those of the Empire.
Despite this, the many ethnic groups across the desert had produced several thousand years worth of civilization and developed a powerful base that would not lose out to the Empire.