A little knowledge. An empire of 17.

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

   KenyavsEstonia

   Population: 55,339,003 vs 1,370,286 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kenya against Estonia

   Category	Kenya	Estonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	580,367	45,228	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	55,339,003	1,370,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,322	48,848	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.4	30.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,199	318	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	536	3,794	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.4° N	58.6° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Tied13 countries · 4 lives left

   ZambiavsEthiopia

   Flag colours: 4 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Ethiopia became contested.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Zambia against Ethiopia

   Category	Zambia	Ethiopia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	752,618	1,104,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	20,723,965	128,691,692	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,080	3,063	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.5	116.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,330	4,550	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° S	8.5° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   SurinamevsTunisia

   Area: 163,820 vs 163,610 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tunisia, Ethiopia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Suriname against Tunisia

   Category	Suriname	Tunisia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	163,820	163,610	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	628,886	12,200,431	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,128	14,052	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	74.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,230	1,544	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	1,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.1° N	35.3° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   CyprusvsAfghanistan

   Density: 145.4 vs 63.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Afghanistan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cyprus against Afghanistan

   Category	Cyprus	Afghanistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,251	652,230	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	41,454,761	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	59,875	2,204	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	145.4	63.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	7,492	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	648	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	34.3° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   GuyanavsAngola

   Wealth per person: 54,774 vs 9,550 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Angola.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guyana against Angola

   Category	Guyana	Angola	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	214,969	1,246,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	826,353	36,749,906	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	54,774	9,550	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	29.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,775	2,620	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	459	1,600	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.7° N	13.2° S	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   Papua New GuineavsFrance

   Proximity to equator: 5.5° S vs 46.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered France.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Papua New Guinea against France

   Category	Papua New Guinea	France	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	462,840	551,500	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,389,635	65,925,961	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,672	60,927	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	22.4	119.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,509	4,810	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	5,152	3,427	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	5.5° S	46.7° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   GuineavsGhana

   Wealth per person: 4,337 vs 7,563 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea against Ghana

   Category	Guinea	Ghana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	238,533	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	33,787,914	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,337	7,563	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	141.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	885	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	320	539	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.7° N	7.0° N	Would lose