A little knowledge. An empire of 19.

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

   IranvsBahrain

   Area: 1,648,195 vs 760 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bahrain.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iran against Bahrain

   Category	Iran	Bahrain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,648,195	760	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	90,608,707	1,577,059	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	64,224	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	2,075.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	135	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	161	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	26.0° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   BrazilvsGambia

   Area: 8,515,770 vs 11,300 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Gambia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Brazil against Gambia

   Category	Brazil	Gambia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8,515,770	11,300	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	211,140,729	2,697,845	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,193	3,292	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	24.8	238.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,994	63	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,491	80	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.6° S	13.6° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   KyrgyzstanvsBrunei

   Area: 199,951 vs 5,765 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Brunei.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kyrgyzstan against Brunei

   Category	Kyrgyzstan	Brunei	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	199,951	5,765	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,099,750	458,949	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,304	85,103	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	35.5	79.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,439	1,850	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	161	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.7° N	4.5° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   MalawivsChad

   Density: 178.1 vs 15.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Chad.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malawi against Chad

   Category	Malawi	Chad	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	1,284,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	19,319,064	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	2,703	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	178.1	15.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	3,445	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	17.3° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   PeruvsMalta

   Area: 1,285,216 vs 316 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Malta.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Peru against Malta

   Category	Peru	Malta	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,285,216	316	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	33,845,617	552,747	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,042	67,101	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	26.3	1,749.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,746	253	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,414	196.8	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.0° S	35.9° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   HondurasvsVanuatu

   Area: 112,090 vs 12,189 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vanuatu.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Honduras against Vanuatu

   Category	Honduras	Vanuatu	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	112,090	12,189	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,644,851	320,409	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,184	4,202	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.0	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,870	1,877	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	823	2,528	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° N	15.4° S	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   ComorosvsThailand

   Density: 380.5 vs 139.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Thailand.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Comoros against Thailand

   Category	Comoros	Thailand	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,235	513,120	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	850,387	71,702,435	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,897	23,598	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	380.5	139.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,360	2,565	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	340	3,219	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	11.7° S	15.5° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   EritreavsEswatini

   Coastline: 2,234 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Eswatini.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Eritrea against Eswatini

   Category	Eritrea	Eswatini	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	117,600	17,364	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,470,390	1,230,506	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	Unavailable	11,309	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.5	70.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,018	1,862	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,234	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	16.0° N	26.6° S	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Lost19 countries · 3 lives left

   CyprusvsSouth Korea

   Flag colours: 3 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Cyprus.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cyprus against South Korea

   Category	Cyprus	South Korea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,251	99,720	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	51,712,619	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	59,875	57,430	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	145.4	518.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	1,950	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	648	2,413	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	36.3° N	Would win