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 1Tied12 countries · 4 lives left

   ChadvsRomania

   Flag colours: 3 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Romania became contested.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Chad against Romania

   Category	Chad	Romania	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	1,284,000	238,391	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,319,064	19,061,062	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,703	45,982	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.0	80.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,445	2,544	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	225	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.3° N	45.7° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   SloveniavsBangladesh

   Flag colours: 4 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bangladesh, Romania.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Slovenia against Bangladesh

   Category	Slovenia	Bangladesh	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	20,273	148,460	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,120,461	171,466,990	Would lose
   Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	56,151	9,155	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	104.6	1,155.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,864	1,060	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	46.6	580	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	24.3° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   CroatiavsTrinidad and Tobago

   Flag colours: 6 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Trinidad and Tobago.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Croatia against Trinidad and Tobago

   Category	Croatia	Trinidad and Tobago	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,594	5,128	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,859,686	1,367,510	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	47,760	34,652	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	68.2	266.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,831	940	Would win
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	5,835	362	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.8° N	10.3° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   GuineavsQatar

   Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Qatar.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea against Qatar

   Category	Guinea	Qatar	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	11,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	2,656,032	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	129,025	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	229.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	103	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	320	563	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.7° N	25.1° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   IcelandvsPortugal

   Wealth per person: 82,257 vs 49,800 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Portugal.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Iceland against Portugal

   Category	Iceland	Portugal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	103,000	92,090	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	385,663	10,578,174	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	82,257	49,800	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.7	114.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,110	2,351	Would lose
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	4,970	1,793	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	64.7° N	40.7° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   NetherlandsvsMexico

   Wealth per person: 80,392 vs 25,188 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mexico.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Netherlands against Mexico

   Category	Netherlands	Mexico	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	41,543	1,964,375	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,877,117	129,739,759	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	80,392	25,188	Would win
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	430.3	66.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	322	5,636	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	451	9,330	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	11	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	52.2° N	23.5° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   SlovakiavsMauritania

   Wealth per person: 45,865 vs 6,972 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mauritania.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Slovakia against Mauritania

   Category	Slovakia	Mauritania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	49,035	1,030,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,426,740	5,022,441	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45,865	6,972	Would win
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	110.7	4.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,655	915	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	754	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.7° N	19.4° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   El SalvadorvsSpain

   Proximity to equator: 13.9° N vs 40.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Spain.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for El Salvador against Spain

   Category	El Salvador	Spain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	505,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	48,352,528	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	55,661	Would lose
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	299.9	95.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	3,718	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	4,964	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	13.9° N	40.0° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   ZimbabwevsArmenia

   Population: 16,340,822 vs 2,964,300 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Armenia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Zimbabwe against Armenia

   Category	Zimbabwe	Armenia	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	390,757	29,743	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	16,340,822	2,964,300	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,796	21,552	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	41.8	99.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,592	4,090	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.0° S	40.6° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    CzechiavsEritrea

    Area: 78,867 vs 117,600 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Czechia.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Czechia against Eritrea

    Category	Czechia	Eritrea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	78,867	117,600	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,864,042	3,470,390	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	56,062	Unavailable	Unavailable
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	137.8	29.5	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,602	3,018	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,234	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.8° N	16.0° N	Would lose