A little knowledge. An empire of 17.

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

   North KoreavsNorway

   Proximity to equator: 39.9° N vs 61.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Norway.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for North Korea against Norway

   Category	North Korea	Norway	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	120,538	323,802	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,418,204	5,519,601	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	Unavailable	107,768	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	219.2	17.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,744	2,469	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,495	25,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	39.9° N	61.5° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   BahamasvsMoldova

   Proximity to equator: 24.7° N vs 47.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Moldova.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahamas against Moldova

   Category	Bahamas	Moldova	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	33,851	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	2,457,783	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	39,122	17,751	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	72.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	430	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,542	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	24.7° N	47.5° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   UruguayvsBotswana

   Wealth per person: 34,546 vs 21,029 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Botswana.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uruguay against Botswana

   Category	Uruguay	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	176,215	581,730	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,388,081	2,480,244	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	34,546	21,029	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	514	1,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	660	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.9° S	22.1° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   United KingdomvsGuyana

   Wealth per person: 60,787 vs 54,774 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guyana.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United Kingdom against Guyana

   Category	United Kingdom	Guyana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	243,610	214,969	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	68,526,000	826,353	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	60,787	54,774	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	281.3	3.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,345	2,775	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	12,429	459	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	52.5° N	2.7° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   RomaniavsTogo

   Area: 238,391 vs 56,785 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Togo.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Romania against Togo

   Category	Romania	Togo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	238,391	56,785	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,061,062	8,223,850	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	45,982	3,572	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	80.0	144.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,544	986	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	225	56	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.7° N	8.9° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   LuxembourgvsNorth Macedonia

   Wealth per person: 152,596 vs 25,354 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered North Macedonia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Luxembourg against North Macedonia

   Category	Luxembourg	North Macedonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,586	25,713	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	666,430	1,827,816	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	152,596	25,354	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	257.7	71.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	559	2,764	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.7° N	41.5° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   HondurasvsMalaysia

   Flag colours: 2 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Honduras.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Honduras against Malaysia

   Category	Honduras	Malaysia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,090	329,847	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,644,851	35,126,298	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,184	36,497	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.0	106.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,870	4,095	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	823	4,675	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° N	4.4° N	Would lose