A little knowledge. An empire of 18.

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

   Equatorial GuineavsNorth Korea

   Proximity to equator: 1.6° N vs 39.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered North Korea.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against North Korea

   Category	Equatorial Guinea	North Korea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,051	120,538	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	26,418,204	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	16,997	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	219.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	2,744	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	2,495	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.6° N	39.9° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   IranvsNepal

   Population: 90,608,707 vs 29,694,614 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nepal.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iran against Nepal

   Category	Iran	Nepal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,648,195	147,181	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	90,608,707	29,694,614	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	5,400	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	201.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	8,849	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	29.0° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   AndorravsRepublic of the Congo

   Wealth per person: 71,790 vs 6,856 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Republic of the Congo.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Andorra against Republic of the Congo

   Category	Andorra	Republic of the Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	468	342,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	80,856	6,182,885	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	71,790	6,856	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	172.8	18.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,946	1,020	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	169	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	0.1° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   LithuaniavsCanada

   Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Canada.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Lithuania against Canada

   Category	Lithuania	Canada	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	65,300	9,984,670	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,871,585	40,049,088	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	52,720	64,962	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	44.0	4.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	294	5,959	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	90	202,080	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	55.1° N	58.8° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   CambodiavsJordan

   Population: 17,423,880 vs 11,439,213 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Jordan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cambodia against Jordan

   Category	Cambodia	Jordan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	181,035	89,342	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	17,423,880	11,439,213	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,437	11,451	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.2	128.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,810	1,854	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	443	26	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.6° N	30.7° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   BrazilvsJamaica

   Population: 211,140,729 vs 2,839,786 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Jamaica.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Brazil against Jamaica

   Category	Brazil	Jamaica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	8,515,770	10,991	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	211,140,729	2,839,786	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,193	12,661	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	24.8	258.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,994	2,256	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,491	1,022	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.6° S	18.1° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   MaltavsAustria

   Coastline: 196.8 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Austria.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malta against Austria

   Category	Malta	Austria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	316	83,871	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	552,747	9,131,761	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	67,101	74,261	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,749.2	108.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	253	3,798	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	196.8	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.9° N	47.7° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   TunisiavsMexico

   Wealth per person: 14,052 vs 25,188 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Tunisia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Tunisia against Mexico

   Category	Tunisia	Mexico	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,610	1,964,375	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	12,200,431	129,739,759	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	14,052	25,188	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	66.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,544	5,636	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,148	9,330	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	11	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.3° N	23.5° N	Would lose