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

   DjiboutivsNicaragua

   Proximity to equator: 11.4° N vs 12.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Nicaragua.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Djibouti against Nicaragua

   Category	Djibouti	Nicaragua	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	23,200	130,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,152,944	6,823,613	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,232	8,327	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	49.7	52.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,021	2,085	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	314	910	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	11.4° N	12.6° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   ChinavsSri Lanka

   Population: 1,410,710,000 vs 22,037,000 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Sri Lanka.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for China against Sri Lanka

   Category	China	Sri Lanka	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,596,960	65,610	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,410,710,000	22,037,000	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,200	14,512	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	147.0	335.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,849	2,524	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	14,500	1,340	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.5° N	7.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   VenezuelavsPeru

   Coastline: 2,800 vs 2,414 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Peru.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Venezuela against Peru

   Category	Venezuela	Peru	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	912,050	1,285,216	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,300,854	33,845,617	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	Unavailable	17,042	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	31.0	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,978	6,746	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,800	2,414	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.2° N	13.0° S	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   CanadavsIsrael

   Area: 9,984,670 vs 21,937 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Israel.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Canada against Israel

   Category	Canada	Israel	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,984,670	21,937	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	40,049,088	9,849,000	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	64,962	55,301	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.0	449.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,959	2,224	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	202,080	273	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.8° N	30.9° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   LithuaniavsAustria

   Coastline: 90 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Austria.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Lithuania against Austria

   Category	Lithuania	Austria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	65,300	83,871	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,871,585	9,131,761	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	52,720	74,261	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	44.0	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	294	3,798	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	90	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	55.1° N	47.7° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   FijivsEquatorial Guinea

   Coastline: 1,129 vs 296 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Equatorial Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Fiji against Equatorial Guinea

   Category	Fiji	Equatorial Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	18,274	28,051	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	924,145	1,847,549	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,656	16,997	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	50.6	65.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,324	3,008	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,129	296	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	8	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.8° S	1.6° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   JordanvsDominican Republic

   Density: 128.0 vs 232.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Jordan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Jordan against Dominican Republic

   Category	Jordan	Dominican Republic	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	89,342	48,670	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	11,331,265	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	25,861	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	128.0	232.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,854	3,098	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	26	1,288	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.7° N	19.1° N	Would lose