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

   GhanavsEcuador

   Population: 33,787,914 vs 17,980,083 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ecuador.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Ghana against Ecuador

   Category	Ghana	Ecuador	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	238,533	283,561	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	33,787,914	17,980,083	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,563	15,907	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	141.6	63.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	885	6,267	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	539	2,237	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	11	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	1.2° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   South KoreavsMozambique

   Density: 518.6 vs 42.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mozambique.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Korea against Mozambique

   Category	South Korea	Mozambique	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	99,720	799,380	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	51,712,619	33,635,160	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	57,430	1,680	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	518.6	42.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,950	2,436	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,413	2,470	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	36.3° N	14.0° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   NigervsSyria

   Area: 1,267,000 vs 187,437 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Syria.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Niger against Syria

   Category	Niger	Syria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,267,000	187,437	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,159,867	23,594,623	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	1,903	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.6	125.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,022	2,814	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	193	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.6° N	35.0° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   KenyavsSierra Leone

   Highest peak: 5,199 vs 1,948 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Sierra Leone.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kenya against Sierra Leone

   Category	Kenya	Sierra Leone	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	580,367	71,740	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	55,339,003	8,460,512	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,322	3,371	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.4	117.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,199	1,948	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	536	402	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.4° N	8.7° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   MalawivsEstonia

   Area: 118,484 vs 45,228 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malawi against Estonia

   Category	Malawi	Estonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	118,484	45,228	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	1,370,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	48,848	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	178.1	30.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	318	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,794	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	58.6° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   Côte d’IvoirevsRussia

   Density: 96.6 vs 8.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Russia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Côte d’Ivoire against Russia

   Category	Côte d’Ivoire	Russia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	322,463	17,098,242	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,165,654	143,826,130	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,243	44,299	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	96.6	8.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	5,642	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	515	37,653	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.5° N	63.6° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   SurinamevsMongolia

   Wealth per person: 21,128 vs 18,020 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mongolia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Suriname against Mongolia

   Category	Suriname	Mongolia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,820	1,564,116	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	628,886	3,481,145	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	21,128	18,020	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	2.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,230	4,374	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.1° N	46.0° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   BangladeshvsCzechia

   Population: 171,466,990 vs 10,864,042 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Czechia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bangladesh against Czechia

   Category	Bangladesh	Czechia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	148,460	78,867	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	171,466,990	10,864,042	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,155	56,062	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,155.0	137.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,060	1,602	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	580	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.3° N	49.8° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   GreecevsZambia

   Coastline: 13,676 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Zambia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Greece against Zambia

   Category	Greece	Zambia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	131,957	752,618	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,407,351	20,723,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	42,614	4,080	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	78.9	27.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,917	2,330	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,676	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.8° N	14.7° S	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    CameroonvsUzbekistan

    Density: 59.7 vs 79.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Cameroon.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Cameroon against Uzbekistan

    Category	Cameroon	Uzbekistan	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	475,440	447,400	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,372,687	35,652,307	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,415	11,679	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	59.7	79.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,045	4,643	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.5° N	41.5° N	Would win