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 1Lost11 countries · 3 lives left

   MalivsUzbekistan

   Density: 19.2 vs 79.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Mali.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Mali against Uzbekistan

   Category	Mali	Uzbekistan	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · 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 ↑ · Chosen	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 ↓	18.6° N	41.5° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won12 countries · 3 lives left

   LithuaniavsBelgium

   Coastline: 90 vs 66.5 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Belgium.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Lithuania against Belgium

   Category	Lithuania	Belgium	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	65,300	30,528	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,871,585	11,779,946	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	52,720	72,630	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	44.0	385.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	294	694	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	90	66.5	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	55.1° N	50.8° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won13 countries · 3 lives left

   Côte d’IvoirevsMongolia

   Proximity to equator: 7.5° N vs 46.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Mongolia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Côte d’Ivoire against Mongolia

   Category	Côte d’Ivoire	Mongolia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	322,463	1,564,116	Would lose
   PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	31,165,654	3,481,145	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,243	18,020	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.6	2.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	4,374	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	515	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.5° N	46.0° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won14 countries · 3 lives left

   PortugalvsBulgaria

   Flag colours: 6 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bulgaria.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Portugal against Bulgaria

   Category	Portugal	Bulgaria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	110,879	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	6,446,596	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	49,800	38,829	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	58.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	2,925	Would lose
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	1,793	354	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	42.5° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won15 countries · 3 lives left

   HondurasvsMauritania

   Coastline: 823 vs 754 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mauritania.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Honduras against Mauritania

   Category	Honduras	Mauritania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,090	1,030,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,644,851	5,022,441	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,184	6,972	Would win
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	95.0	4.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,870	915	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	823	754	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° N	19.4° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won16 countries · 3 lives left

   LibyavsEstonia

   Highest peak: 2,267 vs 318 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Libya against Estonia

   Category	Libya	Estonia	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	1,759,540	45,228	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,305,659	1,370,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,858	48,848	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.2	30.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,267	318	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,770	3,794	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.1° N	58.6° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won17 countries · 3 lives left

   ChilevsLiberia

   Highest peak: 6,893 vs 1,447 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Liberia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Chile against Liberia

   Category	Chile	Liberia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	756,102	111,369	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,658,835	5,493,031	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	33,174	1,796	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	26.0	49.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6,893	1,447	Would win
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	6,435	579	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.4° S	7.0° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won18 countries · 3 lives left

   VietnamvsAndorra

   Coastline: 3,444 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Andorra.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Vietnam against Andorra

   Category	Vietnam	Andorra	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	331,210	468	Would win
   PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	100,352,192	80,856	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,034	71,790	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	303.0	172.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,144	2,946	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,444	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	7	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.7° N	42.5° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Tied18 countries · 3 lives left

   BahamasvsBotswana

   Flag colours: 3 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Botswana became contested.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahamas against Botswana

   Category	Bahamas	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	581,730	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	2,480,244	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	39,122	21,029	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	1,495	Would lose
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	3,542	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	22.1° S	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won20 countries · 3 lives left

    HaitivsUnited Arab Emirates

    Flag colours: 7 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered United Arab Emirates, Botswana.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Haiti against United Arab Emirates

    Category	Haiti	United Arab Emirates	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	27,750	83,600	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,637,398	10,483,751	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,265	78,020	Would lose
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	419.4	125.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,674	1,905	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,771	1,318	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.2° N	23.5° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Lost19 countries · 2 lives left

    BahrainvsComoros

    Area: 760 vs 2,235 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Bahrain.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Bahrain against Comoros

    Category	Bahrain	Comoros	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	760	2,235	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,577,059	850,387	Would win
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	64,224	3,897	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	2,075.1	380.5	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	135	2,360	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	340	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.0° N	11.7° S	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Lost18 countries · 1 life left

    IcelandvsUnited States

    Density: 3.7 vs 34.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Iceland.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Iceland against United States

    Category	Iceland	United States	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	103,000	9,833,517	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	385,663	336,755,052	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	82,257	82,587	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3.7	34.2	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,110	6,190	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,970	19,924	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	64.7° N	39.1° N	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Won19 countries · 1 life left

    LithuaniavsCanada

    Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Canada.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Lithuania against Canada

    Category	Lithuania	Canada	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	65,300	9,984,670	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,871,585	40,049,088	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	52,720	64,962	Would lose
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	44.0	4.0	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	294	5,959	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	90	202,080	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	55.1° N	58.8° N	Would win

14. 14
    Round 14Won20 countries · 1 life left

    BelgiumvsSwitzerland

    Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Switzerland.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Belgium against Switzerland

    Category	Belgium	Switzerland	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,528	41,277	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,779,946	8,888,822	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,630	93,940	Would lose
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	385.9	215.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	694	4,634	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	66.5	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	50.8° N	46.7° N	Would lose

15. 15
    Round 15Won21 countries · 1 life left

    Côte d’IvoirevsSouth Africa

    Density: 96.6 vs 51.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered South Africa.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Côte d’Ivoire against South Africa

    Category	Côte d’Ivoire	South Africa	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	322,463	1,219,090	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,165,654	63,212,384	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,243	15,212	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	96.6	51.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	3,450	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	515	2,798	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.5° N	30.2° S	Would win

16. 16
    Round 16Won22 countries · 1 life left

    MongoliavsCabo Verde

    Highest peak: 4,374 vs 2,829 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Cabo Verde.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Mongolia against Cabo Verde

    Category	Mongolia	Cabo Verde	Result
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	1,564,116	4,033	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,481,145	522,331	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,020	10,251	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	2.2	129.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,374	2,829	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	965	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	15.0° N	Would lose

17. 17
    Round 17Won23 countries · 1 life left

    PortugalvsBosnia and Herzegovina

    Population: 10,578,174 vs 3,185,073 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Portugal against Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Category	Portugal	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	51,197	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	10,578,174	3,185,073	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	49,800	23,376	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	62.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	2,386	Would lose
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	1,793	20	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	44.1° N	Would win

18. 18
    Round 18Lost22 countries · 0 lives left

    BulgariavsMalaysia

    Highest peak: 2,925 vs 4,095 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Bulgaria.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Bulgaria against Malaysia

    Category	Bulgaria	Malaysia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	110,879	329,847	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,446,596	35,126,298	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	38,829	36,497	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.1	106.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,925	4,095	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	354	4,675	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	4.4° N	Would lose