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

   PakistanvsCôte d’Ivoire

   Population: 247,504,495 vs 31,165,654 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Côte d’Ivoire.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Pakistan against Côte d’Ivoire

   Category	Pakistan	Côte d’Ivoire	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	796,095	322,463	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	247,504,495	31,165,654	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,019	7,243	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	310.9	96.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,611	1,752	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,046	515	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.8° N	7.5° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Lost12 countries · 3 lives left

   EritreavsLiberia

   Density: 29.5 vs 49.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Eritrea.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Eritrea against Liberia

   Category	Eritrea	Liberia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	117,600	111,369	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,470,390	5,493,031	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	Unavailable	1,796	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	29.5	49.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,018	1,447	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,234	579	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	16.0° N	7.0° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won13 countries · 3 lives left

   SwitzerlandvsTunisia

   Wealth per person: 93,940 vs 14,052 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tunisia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Switzerland against Tunisia

   Category	Switzerland	Tunisia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	41,277	163,610	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,888,822	12,200,431	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	93,940	14,052	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	215.3	74.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,634	1,544	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	35.3° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won14 countries · 3 lives left

   GreecevsPeru

   Coastline: 13,676 vs 2,414 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Peru.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Greece against Peru

   Category	Greece	Peru	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	131,957	1,285,216	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,407,351	33,845,617	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	42,614	17,042	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	78.9	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,917	6,746	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,676	2,414	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.8° N	13.0° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Lost13 countries · 2 lives left

   North KoreavsVanuatu

   Coastline: 2,495 vs 2,528 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: North Korea.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for North Korea against Vanuatu

   Category	North Korea	Vanuatu	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	120,538	12,189	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,418,204	320,409	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	Unavailable	4,202	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	219.2	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,744	1,877	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,495	2,528	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	15.4° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won14 countries · 2 lives left

   HungaryvsBenin

   Wealth per person: 46,376 vs 4,133 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Benin.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Hungary against Benin

   Category	Hungary	Benin	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	93,028	112,622	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,592,186	14,111,034	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	46,376	4,133	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	103.1	125.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,014	675	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	121	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.3° N	10.4° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won15 countries · 2 lives left

   UkrainevsRussia

   Proximity to equator: 49.6° N vs 63.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Russia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Ukraine against Russia

   Category	Ukraine	Russia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	603,550	17,098,242	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	37,732,836	143,826,130	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,680	44,299	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	62.5	8.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,061	5,642	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,782	37,653	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	49.6° N	63.6° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won16 countries · 2 lives left

   LuxembourgvsMadagascar

   Wealth per person: 152,596 vs 1,810 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Madagascar.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Luxembourg against Madagascar

   Category	Luxembourg	Madagascar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,586	587,041	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	666,430	31,195,932	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	152,596	1,810	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	257.7	53.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	559	2,876	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,828	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.7° N	18.4° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won17 countries · 2 lives left

   SlovakiavsChad

   Wealth per person: 45,865 vs 2,703 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Chad.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Slovakia against Chad

   Category	Slovakia	Chad	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	49,035	1,284,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,426,740	19,319,064	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45,865	2,703	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	110.7	15.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,655	3,445	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.7° N	17.3° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won18 countries · 2 lives left

    IndonesiavsEgypt

    Coastline: 54,716 vs 2,450 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Egypt.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Indonesia against Egypt

    Category	Indonesia	Egypt	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,904,569	1,001,450	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	281,190,067	114,535,772	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,428	18,540	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	147.6	114.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,884	2,629	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	54,716	2,450	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.0° S	26.3° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won19 countries · 2 lives left

    BulgariavsAndorra

    Coastline: 354 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Andorra.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Bulgaria against Andorra

    Category	Bulgaria	Andorra	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	110,879	468	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,446,596	80,856	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	38,829	71,790	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.1	172.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,925	2,946	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	354	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	7	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	42.5° N	Would tie

12. 12
    Round 12Lost18 countries · 1 life left

    AzerbaijanvsRwanda

    Highest peak: 4,466 vs 4,519 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Azerbaijan.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Azerbaijan against Rwanda

    Category	Azerbaijan	Rwanda	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	86,600	26,338	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,153,958	13,954,471	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,671	3,519	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	529.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,466	4,519	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.5° N	1.8° S	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Won19 countries · 1 life left

    PakistanvsArmenia

    Population: 247,504,495 vs 2,964,300 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Armenia.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Pakistan against Armenia

    Category	Pakistan	Armenia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	796,095	29,743	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	247,504,495	2,964,300	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,019	21,552	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	310.9	99.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,611	4,090	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,046	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.8° N	40.6° N	Would win

14. 14
    Round 14Won20 countries · 1 life left

    Côte d’IvoirevsIceland

    Population: 31,165,654 vs 385,663 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Iceland.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Côte d’Ivoire against Iceland

    Category	Côte d’Ivoire	Iceland	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	322,463	103,000	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	31,165,654	385,663	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,243	82,257	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.6	3.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	2,110	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	515	4,970	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.5° N	64.7° N	Would win

15. 15
    Round 15Won21 countries · 1 life left

    SwitzerlandvsChile

    Wealth per person: 93,940 vs 33,174 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Chile.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Switzerland against Chile

    Category	Switzerland	Chile	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	41,277	756,102	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,888,822	19,658,835	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	93,940	33,174	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	215.3	26.0	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,634	6,893	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	6,435	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	23.4° S	Would lose

16. 16
    Round 16Lost20 countries · 0 lives left

    TunisiavsSingapore

    Proximity to equator: 35.3° N vs 1.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Returned to the world: Tunisia.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Tunisia against Singapore

    Category	Tunisia	Singapore	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,610	719	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	12,200,431	5,917,648	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,052	144,728	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	8,230.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,544	166	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,148	193	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	35.3° N	1.4° N	Would lose