A little knowledge. An empire of 24.

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

   NamibiavsSri Lanka

   Area: 824,292 vs 65,610 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Sri Lanka.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Namibia against Sri Lanka

   Category	Namibia	Sri Lanka	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	824,292	65,610	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,963,095	22,037,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,248	14,512	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.6	335.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,573	2,524	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,572	1,340	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	5	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° S	7.1° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Cabo VerdevsDR Congo

   Density: 129.5 vs 45.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered DR Congo.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cabo Verde against DR Congo

   Category	Cabo Verde	DR Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	4,033	2,344,858	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	522,331	105,789,731	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,251	1,732	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129.5	45.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,829	5,110	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	965	37	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.0° N	1.9° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   IraqvsAustralia

   Population: 45,074,049 vs 26,659,922 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Australia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iraq against Australia

   Category	Iraq	Australia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	438,317	7,741,220	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45,074,049	26,659,922	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,665	72,273	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	102.8	3.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,611	2,228	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	58	25,760	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	33.3° N	23.1° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   TürkiyevsNorth Macedonia

   Population: 85,325,965 vs 1,827,816 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered North Macedonia.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Türkiye against North Macedonia

   Category	Türkiye	North Macedonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	783,562	25,713	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	85,325,965	1,827,816	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	43,196	25,354	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	71.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,137	2,764	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,200	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.1° N	41.5° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   NepalvsMali

   Highest peak: 8,849 vs 1,155 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mali.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Nepal against Mali

   Category	Nepal	Mali	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	147,181	1,240,192	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	29,694,614	23,769,127	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,400	3,178	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	201.8	19.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8,849	1,155	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.0° N	18.6° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   ItalyvsTogo

   Population: 58,984,216 vs 8,223,850 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Togo.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Italy against Togo

   Category	Italy	Togo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	301,340	56,785	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	58,984,216	8,223,850	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,350	3,572	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	195.7	144.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,748	986	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,600	56	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.1° N	8.9° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   KuwaitvsBhutan

   Wealth per person: 53,083 vs 16,229 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bhutan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kuwait against Bhutan

   Category	Kuwait	Bhutan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,818	38,394	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	4,853,420	786,385	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	53,083	16,229	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	272.4	20.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	300	7,570	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	499	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° N	27.5° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   CubavsMadagascar

   Density: 99.4 vs 53.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Madagascar.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cuba against Madagascar

   Category	Cuba	Madagascar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	110,860	587,041	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,019,931	31,195,932	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	Unavailable	1,810	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	99.4	53.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,974	2,876	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,735	4,828	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° N	18.4° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   South SudanvsEl Salvador

   Area: 644,329 vs 21,041 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered El Salvador.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Sudan against El Salvador

   Category	South Sudan	El Salvador	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	644,329	21,041	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,483,374	6,309,624	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	Unavailable	12,667	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.8	299.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,187	2,730	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	307	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.1° N	13.9° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    United StatesvsAndorra

    Population: 336,755,052 vs 80,856 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Andorra.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for United States against Andorra

    Category	United States	Andorra	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,833,517	468	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	336,755,052	80,856	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	82,587	71,790	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	34.2	172.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,190	2,946	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	19,924	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	7	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.1° N	42.5° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    RomaniavsDominican Republic

    Wealth per person: 45,982 vs 25,861 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Dominican Republic.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Romania against Dominican Republic

    Category	Romania	Dominican Republic	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	238,391	48,670	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,061,062	11,331,265	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45,982	25,861	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	80.0	232.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,544	3,098	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	225	1,288	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.7° N	19.1° N	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Won24 countries · 4 lives left

    Guinea-BissauvsBotswana

    Proximity to equator: 12.1° N vs 22.1° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Botswana.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guinea-Bissau against Botswana

    Category	Guinea-Bissau	Botswana	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	36,125	581,730	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,153,339	2,480,244	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,956	21,029	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.6	4.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	277	1,495	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	350	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.1° N	22.1° S	Would win

13. 13
    Round 13Won25 countries · 4 lives left

    NamibiavsZambia

    Coastline: 1,572 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Zambia.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Namibia against Zambia

    Category	Namibia	Zambia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	824,292	752,618	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,963,095	20,723,965	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,248	4,080	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.6	27.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,573	2,330	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,572	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° S	14.7° S	Would lose

14. 14
    Round 14Lost24 countries · 3 lives left

    Sri LankavsColombia

    Coastline: 1,340 vs 3,208 km · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Sri Lanka.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Sri Lanka against Colombia

    Category	Sri Lanka	Colombia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	65,610	1,138,910	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	22,037,000	52,321,152	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,512	21,282	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	335.9	45.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,524	5,730	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,340	3,208	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.1° N	3.4° N	Would lose