A little knowledge. An empire of 20.

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

   VietnamvsNicaragua

   Population: 100,352,192 vs 6,823,613 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nicaragua.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Vietnam against Nicaragua

   Category	Vietnam	Nicaragua	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	331,210	130,370	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	100,352,192	6,823,613	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,034	8,327	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	303.0	52.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,144	2,085	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,444	910	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.7° N	12.6° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   RwandavsBulgaria

   Proximity to equator: 1.8° S vs 42.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Bulgaria.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Rwanda against Bulgaria

   Category	Rwanda	Bulgaria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	26,338	110,879	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,954,471	6,446,596	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,519	38,829	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	529.8	58.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,519	2,925	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	354	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.8° S	42.5° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   Dominican RepublicvsBurkina Faso

   Coastline: 1,288 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Burkina Faso.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Dominican Republic against Burkina Faso

   Category	Dominican Republic	Burkina Faso	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	48,670	274,200	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,331,265	23,025,776	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,861	2,762	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	232.8	84.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,098	749	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,288	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.1° N	12.8° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   AustraliavsTimor-Leste

   Area: 7,741,220 vs 14,874 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Timor-Leste.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Australia against Timor-Leste

   Category	Australia	Timor-Leste	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,741,220	14,874	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,659,922	1,384,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,273	4,811	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.4	93.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,228	2,963	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	25,760	706	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.1° S	8.9° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   MaltavsSweden

   Proximity to equator: 35.9° N vs 65.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Sweden.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malta against Sweden

   Category	Malta	Sweden	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	316	450,295	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	552,747	10,536,632	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	67,101	68,458	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,749.2	23.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	253	2,100	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	196.8	3,218	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	35.9° N	65.8° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   KyrgyzstanvsTanzania

   Highest peak: 7,439 vs 5,895 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tanzania.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Kyrgyzstan against Tanzania

   Category	Kyrgyzstan	Tanzania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	199,951	947,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,099,750	66,617,606	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,304	4,022	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	35.5	70.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,439	5,895	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,424	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.7° N	5.5° S	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   DR CongovsBenin

   Population: 105,789,731 vs 14,111,034 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Benin.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for DR Congo against Benin

   Category	DR Congo	Benin	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,344,858	112,622	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	105,789,731	14,111,034	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,732	4,133	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.1	125.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,110	675	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37	121	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.9° S	10.4° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   SerbiavsTürkiye

   Flag colours: 5 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Türkiye.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Serbia against Türkiye

   Category	Serbia	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	77,474	783,562	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,623,183	85,325,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	29,777	43,196	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	85.5	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,169	5,137	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	7,200	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	44.2° N	39.1° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   Costa RicavsBelize

   Proximity to equator: 10.1° N vs 17.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Belize.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Costa Rica against Belize

   Category	Costa Rica	Belize	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,100	22,966	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,105,525	411,106	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	29,248	13,741	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.9	17.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,819	1,124	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,290	386	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	12	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.1° N	17.0° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    Central African RepublicvsChile

    Area: 622,984 vs 756,102 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Central African Republic.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Central African Republic against Chile

    Category	Central African Republic	Chile	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	622,984	756,102	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,152,421	19,658,835	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,258	33,174	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.3	26.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,410	6,893	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	6,435	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	23.4° S	Would win