A little knowledge. An empire of 21.

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

   YemenvsItaly

   Proximity to equator: 15.3° N vs 45.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Italy.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Yemen against Italy

   Category	Yemen	Italy	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	527,968	301,340	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	39,390,799	58,984,216	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	Unavailable	60,350	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	195.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,666	4,748	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,906	7,600	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.3° N	45.1° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   PakistanvsCzechia

   Population: 247,504,495 vs 10,864,042 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Czechia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Pakistan against Czechia

   Category	Pakistan	Czechia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	796,095	78,867	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	247,504,495	10,864,042	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,019	56,062	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	310.9	137.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,611	1,602	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,046	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.8° N	49.8° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   PhilippinesvsEcuador

   Population: 114,891,199 vs 17,980,083 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ecuador.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Philippines against Ecuador

   Category	Philippines	Ecuador	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	300,000	283,561	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	114,891,199	17,980,083	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,995	15,907	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	383.0	63.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,954	6,267	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	36,289	2,237	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	11	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.0° N	1.2° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   QatarvsJamaica

   Wealth per person: 129,025 vs 12,661 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Jamaica.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Qatar against Jamaica

   Category	Qatar	Jamaica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,586	10,991	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,656,032	2,839,786	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129,025	12,661	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	229.2	258.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	103	2,256	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	563	1,022	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	25.1° N	18.1° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   NepalvsUzbekistan

   Highest peak: 8,849 vs 4,643 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Uzbekistan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Nepal against Uzbekistan

   Category	Nepal	Uzbekistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	147,181	447,400	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	29,694,614	35,652,307	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,400	11,679	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	201.8	79.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8,849	4,643	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.0° N	41.5° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   AngolavsSouth Sudan

   Population: 36,749,906 vs 11,483,374 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Angola against South Sudan

   Category	Angola	South Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,246,700	644,329	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	36,749,906	11,483,374	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	9,550	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.5	17.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,620	3,187	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,600	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.2° S	7.1° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   VenezuelavsMalawi

   Highest peak: 4,978 vs 3,002 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Malawi.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Venezuela against Malawi

   Category	Venezuela	Malawi	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	912,050	118,484	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,300,854	21,104,482	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	Unavailable	1,832	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	31.0	178.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,978	3,002	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,800	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.2° N	13.4° S	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   NamibiavsChile

   Flag colours: 5 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Chile.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Namibia against Chile

   Category	Namibia	Chile	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	824,292	756,102	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,963,095	19,658,835	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,248	33,174	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.6	26.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,573	6,893	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,572	6,435	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° S	23.4° S	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   ChadvsGuyana

   Area: 1,284,000 vs 214,969 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guyana.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Chad against Guyana

   Category	Chad	Guyana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,284,000	214,969	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,319,064	826,353	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,703	54,774	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.0	3.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,445	2,775	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	459	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.3° N	2.7° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    KyrgyzstanvsGhana

    Highest peak: 7,439 vs 885 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Ghana.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Kyrgyzstan against Ghana

    Category	Kyrgyzstan	Ghana	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	199,951	238,533	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,099,750	33,787,914	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,304	7,563	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	35.5	141.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,439	885	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	539	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.7° N	7.0° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Lost21 countries · 3 lives left

    HungaryvsUnited Arab Emirates

    Highest peak: 1,014 vs 1,905 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Hungary.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Hungary against United Arab Emirates

    Category	Hungary	United Arab Emirates	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	93,028	83,600	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,592,186	10,483,751	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	46,376	78,020	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	103.1	125.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,014	1,905	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,318	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.3° N	23.5° N	Would lose