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

   MexicovsBotswana

   Population: 129,739,759 vs 2,480,244 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Botswana.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mexico against Botswana

   Category	Mexico	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,964,375	581,730	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129,739,759	2,480,244	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,188	21,029	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	66.0	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,636	1,495	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	9,330	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	22.1° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   ZambiavsJordan

   Area: 752,618 vs 89,342 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Jordan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Zambia against Jordan

   Category	Zambia	Jordan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	752,618	89,342	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	20,723,965	11,439,213	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,080	11,451	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.5	128.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,330	1,854	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	26	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° S	30.7° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   SpainvsComoros

   Area: 505,370 vs 2,235 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Comoros.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Spain against Comoros

   Category	Spain	Comoros	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	505,370	2,235	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	48,352,528	850,387	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	55,661	3,897	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.7	380.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,718	2,360	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,964	340	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	5	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.0° N	11.7° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   PolandvsPapua New Guinea

   Population: 36,687,353 vs 10,389,635 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Papua New Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Poland against Papua New Guinea

   Category	Poland	Papua New Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	312,685	462,840	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	36,687,353	10,389,635	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	48,473	4,672	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	22.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,499	4,509	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	440	5,152	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.9° N	5.5° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   FrancevsSingapore

   Population: 65,925,961 vs 5,917,648 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Singapore.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for France against Singapore

   Category	France	Singapore	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	551,500	719	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	65,925,961	5,917,648	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,927	144,728	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	119.5	8,230.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,810	166	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,427	193	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	1.4° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   Republic of the CongovsTimor-Leste

   Proximity to equator: 0.1° N vs 8.9° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Timor-Leste.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Republic of the Congo against Timor-Leste

   Category	Republic of the Congo	Timor-Leste	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	342,000	14,874	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,182,885	1,384,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,856	4,811	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	18.1	93.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	2,963	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	169	706	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	0.1° N	8.9° S	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   SlovakiavsQatar

   Area: 49,035 vs 11,586 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Qatar.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Slovakia against Qatar

   Category	Slovakia	Qatar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49,035	11,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,426,740	2,656,032	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	45,865	129,025	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	110.7	229.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,655	103	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	563	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.7° N	25.1° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   ItalyvsAfghanistan

   Coastline: 7,600 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Afghanistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Italy against Afghanistan

   Category	Italy	Afghanistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	301,340	652,230	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	58,984,216	41,454,761	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,350	2,204	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	195.7	63.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,748	7,492	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,600	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.1° N	34.3° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   New ZealandvsSierra Leone

   Coastline: 15,134 vs 402 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Sierra Leone.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for New Zealand against Sierra Leone

   Category	New Zealand	Sierra Leone	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	268,838	71,740	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,200,000	8,460,512	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	54,950	3,371	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.3	117.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,724	1,948	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	15,134	402	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.3° S	8.7° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    SwitzerlandvsGuyana

    Highest peak: 4,634 vs 2,775 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Guyana.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Switzerland against Guyana

    Category	Switzerland	Guyana	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	41,277	214,969	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,888,822	826,353	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	93,940	54,774	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	215.3	3.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,634	2,775	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	459	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	2.7° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    Saudi ArabiavsAndorra

    Population: 33,702,731 vs 80,856 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Andorra.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Saudi Arabia against Andorra

    Category	Saudi Arabia	Andorra	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,149,690	468	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	33,702,731	80,856	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	71,624	71,790	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.7	172.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,000	2,946	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,640	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	7	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	42.5° N	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Won24 countries · 4 lives left

    Guinea-BissauvsIsrael

    Proximity to equator: 12.1° N vs 30.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Israel.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guinea-Bissau against Israel

    Category	Guinea-Bissau	Israel	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	36,125	21,937	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,153,339	9,849,000	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,956	55,301	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.6	449.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	277	2,224	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	350	273	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.1° N	30.9° N	Would win

13. 13
    Round 13Lost23 countries · 3 lives left

    MexicovsChina

    Density: 66.0 vs 147.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Mexico.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Mexico against China

    Category	Mexico	China	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,964,375	9,596,960	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	129,739,759	1,410,710,000	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,188	25,200	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	66.0	147.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,636	8,849	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	9,330	14,500	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	32.5° N	Would win

14. 14
    Round 14Lost22 countries · 2 lives left

    BotswanavsNiger

    Density: 4.3 vs 20.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Botswana.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Botswana against Niger

    Category	Botswana	Niger	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	581,730	1,267,000	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,480,244	26,159,867	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,029	1,903	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4.3	20.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,495	2,022	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° S	17.6° N	Would lose