The island is located off the east coast of Africa and boasted a high standard of living, an excellent economy and freedom from the political and racial turmoil that characterized neighbouring nations. However, Genosha's prosperity was built upon the enslavement of its mutant population. Mutants in Genosha are the property of the state and children who were positively identified with the mutant gene were put through a process developed by David Moreau, commonly known as the Geengineer, stripped of free will and made into mutates. The Geengineer was also capable of modifying certain mutant abilities in order to fulfill specific labour shortages. Citizenship in Genosha is permanent and the government does not recognize any emigration. Citizens who attempt to leave the country are tracked down and forcibly brought back to the island by the special police force known as Magistrates and mutant problems are handled by a special group known as the Press Gang.
The foundations of Genoshan society has been upset in recent years due to the efforts of outside mutant interests. The group of adventurers known as the X-Men and their allies toppled the government and a new regime that promised better treatment of mutants was put in place. A period of general turmoil and a number of attacks by superhumans followed.
The United Nations ceded the island nation to the powerful mutant Magneto and he managed to reestablish a modicum of peace and stability. More recently the entire island was decimated and reduced to rubble.