A little knowledge. An empire of 42.

Every comparison uses this expedition’s original data and rules. “Would win” describes this matchup only; a different choice would change the later journey.

21. 21
    Round 21Won33 countries · 4 lives left

    MaldivesvsNorth Korea

    Proximity to equator: 3.3° N vs 39.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered North Korea.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Maldives against North Korea

    Category	Maldives	North Korea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	120,538	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	26,418,204	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	24,807	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,765.1	219.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	2,744	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	644	2,495	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	3.3° N	39.9° N	Would win

22. 22
    Round 22Won34 countries · 4 lives left

    El SalvadorvsBrazil

    Density: 299.9 vs 24.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Brazil.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for El Salvador against Brazil

    Category	El Salvador	Brazil	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	8,515,770	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	211,140,729	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	21,193	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	299.9	24.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	2,994	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	7,491	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	12.6° S	Would lose

23. 23
    Round 23Won35 countries · 4 lives left

    MauritaniavsMoldova

    Area: 1,030,700 vs 33,851 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Moldova.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Mauritania against Moldova

    Category	Mauritania	Moldova	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,030,700	33,851	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,022,441	2,457,783	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,972	17,751	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.9	72.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	915	430	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	754	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	9	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.4° N	47.5° N	Would win

24. 24
    Round 24Won36 countries · 4 lives left

    ArgentinavsKenya

    Area: 2,780,400 vs 580,367 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Kenya.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Argentina against Kenya

    Category	Argentina	Kenya	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,780,400	580,367	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	45,538,401	55,339,003	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	30,246	6,322	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.4	95.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,962	5,199	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,989	536	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	31.4° S	0.4° N	Would lose

25. 25
    Round 25Tied36 countries · 4 lives left

    NetherlandsvsUnited Kingdom

    Flag colours: 3 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

    United Kingdom became contested.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Netherlands against United Kingdom

    Category	Netherlands	United Kingdom	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	41,543	243,610	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,877,117	68,526,000	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	80,392	60,787	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	430.3	281.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	322	1,345	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	451	12,429	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	52.2° N	52.5° N	Would win

26. 26
    Round 26Won38 countries · 4 lives left

    NigervsBurkina Faso

    Area: 1,267,000 vs 274,200 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Burkina Faso, United Kingdom.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Niger against Burkina Faso

    Category	Niger	Burkina Faso	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,267,000	274,200	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,159,867	23,025,776	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,903	2,762	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.6	84.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,022	749	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.6° N	12.8° N	Would lose

27. 27
    Round 27Won39 countries · 4 lives left

    AlbaniavsOman

    Density: 83.9 vs 16.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Oman.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Albania against Oman

    Category	Albania	Oman	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,748	309,500	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,411,658	5,049,269	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,848	41,980	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	83.9	16.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,764	3,004	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	2,092	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	22.1° N	Would lose

28. 28
    Round 28Won40 countries · 4 lives left

    SyriavsIndonesia

    Flag colours: 4 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Indonesia.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Syria against Indonesia

    Category	Syria	Indonesia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	187,437	1,904,569	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,594,623	281,190,067	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	15,428	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.9	147.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,814	4,884	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	54,716	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.0° N	1.0° S	Would lose

29. 29
    Round 29Won41 countries · 4 lives left

    RussiavsCyprus

    Area: 17,098,242 vs 9,251 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Cyprus.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Russia against Cyprus

    Category	Russia	Cyprus	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	17,098,242	9,251	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	143,826,130	1,344,976	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	44,299	59,875	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.4	145.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,642	1,951	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37,653	648	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.6° N	34.9° N	Would lose

30. 30
    Round 30Won42 countries · 4 lives left

    QatarvsEritrea

    Density: 229.2 vs 29.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Eritrea.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Qatar against Eritrea

    Category	Qatar	Eritrea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,586	117,600	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,656,032	3,470,390	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	129,025	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	229.2	29.5	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	103	3,018	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	563	2,234	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	25.1° N	16.0° N	Would lose

31. 31
    Round 31Won43 countries · 4 lives left

    AustraliavsLiberia

    Area: 7,741,220 vs 111,369 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Liberia.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Australia against Liberia

    Category	Australia	Liberia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,741,220	111,369	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,659,922	5,493,031	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,273	1,796	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.4	49.3	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,228	1,447	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	25,760	579	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.1° S	7.0° N	Would lose

32. 32
    Round 32Lost42 countries · 3 lives left

    BelarusvsMalaysia

    Flag colours: 3 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Belarus.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Belarus against Malaysia

    Category	Belarus	Malaysia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	207,600	329,847	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,178,298	35,126,298	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	30,860	36,497	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	44.2	106.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	346	4,095	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,675	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	53.8° N	4.4° N	Would lose

33. 33
    Round 33Won43 countries · 3 lives left

    MadagascarvsBelize

    Area: 587,041 vs 22,966 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Belize.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Madagascar against Belize

    Category	Madagascar	Belize	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	587,041	22,966	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,195,932	411,106	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,810	13,741	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	53.1	17.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,876	1,124	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,828	386	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	12	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	18.4° S	17.0° N	Would lose

34. 34
    Round 34Lost42 countries · 2 lives left

    ArmeniavsTurkmenistan

    Proximity to equator: 40.6° N vs 39.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Returned to the world: Armenia.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Armenia against Turkmenistan

    Category	Armenia	Turkmenistan	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	29,743	488,100	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,964,300	7,364,438	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,552	19,645	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.7	15.1	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,090	3,139	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	40.6° N	39.9° N	Would lose