A little knowledge. An empire of 22.

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

1. 1
   Round 1Won13 countries · 4 lives left

   SwitzerlandvsNigeria

   Wealth per person: 93,940 vs 8,712 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nigeria.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Switzerland against Nigeria

   Category	Switzerland	Nigeria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	41,277	923,768	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,888,822	227,882,945	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	93,940	8,712	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	215.3	246.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,634	2,419	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	853	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	9.4° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   CambodiavsAngola

   Density: 96.2 vs 29.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Angola.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cambodia against Angola

   Category	Cambodia	Angola	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	181,035	1,246,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,423,880	36,749,906	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,437	9,550	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	96.2	29.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,810	2,620	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	443	1,600	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.6° N	13.2° S	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   TogovsGermany

   Proximity to equator: 8.9° N vs 51.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Germany.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Togo against Germany

   Category	Togo	Germany	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,785	357,022	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,223,850	83,287,273	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,572	72,262	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	144.8	233.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	986	2,963	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	56	2,389	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	8.9° N	51.0° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   MalivsUzbekistan

   Proximity to equator: 18.6° N vs 41.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Uzbekistan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Mali against Uzbekistan

   Category	Mali	Uzbekistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,240,192	447,400	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,769,127	35,652,307	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,178	11,679	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	79.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,155	4,643	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	18.6° N	41.5° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   SyriavsGeorgia

   Proximity to equator: 35.0° N vs 42.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Georgia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Syria against Georgia

   Category	Syria	Georgia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	187,437	69,700	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,594,623	3,715,483	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	25,093	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.9	53.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,814	5,193	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	310	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	35.0° N	42.4° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   TurkmenistanvsBrunei

   Area: 488,100 vs 5,765 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Brunei.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Turkmenistan against Brunei

   Category	Turkmenistan	Brunei	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	488,100	5,765	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,364,438	458,949	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	19,645	85,103	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.1	79.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,139	1,850	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	161	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	4.5° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   Republic of the CongovsAzerbaijan

   Proximity to equator: 0.1° N vs 40.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Azerbaijan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Republic of the Congo against Azerbaijan

   Category	Republic of the Congo	Azerbaijan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	342,000	86,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,182,885	10,153,958	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,856	23,671	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	18.1	117.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	4,466	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	169	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	0.1° N	40.5° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   MalaysiavsAfghanistan

   Density: 106.5 vs 63.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Afghanistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malaysia against Afghanistan

   Category	Malaysia	Afghanistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	329,847	652,230	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	35,126,298	41,454,761	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	36,497	2,204	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	106.5	63.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,095	7,492	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,675	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.4° N	34.3° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   BhutanvsNorth Korea

   Proximity to equator: 27.5° N vs 39.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered North Korea.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bhutan against North Korea

   Category	Bhutan	North Korea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	38,394	120,538	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	786,385	26,418,204	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	16,229	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.5	219.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,570	2,744	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,495	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	27.5° N	39.9° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    LiberiavsRwanda

    Coastline: 579 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Rwanda.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Liberia against Rwanda

    Category	Liberia	Rwanda	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	111,369	26,338	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,493,031	13,954,471	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,796	3,519	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	49.3	529.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,447	4,519	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	579	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	1.8° S	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    BotswanavsCroatia

    Area: 581,730 vs 56,594 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Croatia.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Botswana against Croatia

    Category	Botswana	Croatia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	581,730	56,594	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,480,244	3,859,686	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,029	47,760	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.3	68.2	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,495	1,831	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	5,835	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° S	45.8° N	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Lost22 countries · 3 lives left

    BeninvsGhana

    Proximity to equator: 10.4° N vs 7.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Returned to the world: Benin.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Benin against Ghana

    Category	Benin	Ghana	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,622	238,533	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,111,034	33,787,914	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,133	7,563	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.3	141.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	675	885	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	121	539	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.4° N	7.0° N	Would lose