A little knowledge. An empire of 21.

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

   OmanvsUkraine

   Proximity to equator: 22.1° N vs 49.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Ukraine.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Oman against Ukraine

   Category	Oman	Ukraine	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	309,500	603,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,049,269	37,732,836	Would lose
   Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	41,980	17,680	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.3	62.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,004	2,061	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,092	2,782	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	22.1° N	49.6° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   SlovakiavsTajikistan

   Density: 110.7 vs 72.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tajikistan.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Slovakia against Tajikistan

   Category	Slovakia	Tajikistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	49,035	144,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,426,740	10,389,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	45,865	4,968	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	110.7	72.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,655	7,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.7° N	38.3° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   MalivsAzerbaijan

   Proximity to equator: 18.6° N vs 40.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Azerbaijan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Mali against Azerbaijan

   Category	Mali	Azerbaijan	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	1,240,192	86,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,769,127	10,153,958	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,178	23,671	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	117.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,155	4,466	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	18.6° N	40.5° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   EritreavsLiberia

   Area: 117,600 vs 111,369 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Liberia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Eritrea against Liberia

   Category	Eritrea	Liberia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	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 ↑	29.5	49.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,018	1,447	Would win
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · 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

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   SurinamevsBelarus

   Flag colours: 4 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Belarus.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Suriname against Belarus

   Category	Suriname	Belarus	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,820	207,600	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	628,886	9,178,298	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,128	30,860	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	44.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,230	346	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.1° N	53.8° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   BahamasvsDenmark

   Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Denmark.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahamas against Denmark

   Category	Bahamas	Denmark	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	43,094	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	5,946,952	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	39,122	77,425	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	138.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	171	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,542	7,314	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	55.9° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   MauritaniavsIran

   Proximity to equator: 19.4° N vs 32.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Iran.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mauritania against Iran

   Category	Mauritania	Iran	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,030,700	1,648,195	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,022,441	90,608,707	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,972	18,933	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.9	55.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	915	5,625	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	754	2,440	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	19.4° N	32.1° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   CameroonvsMauritius

   Population: 28,372,687 vs 1,248,647 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mauritius.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cameroon against Mauritius

   Category	Cameroon	Mauritius	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	475,440	2,040	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	28,372,687	1,248,647	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,415	29,403	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.7	612.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,045	828	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	177	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.5° N	20.3° S	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   ZimbabwevsNorth Korea

   Flag colours: 6 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered North Korea.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Zimbabwe against North Korea

   Category	Zimbabwe	North Korea	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	390,757	120,538	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	16,340,822	26,418,204	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	5,796	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	41.8	219.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,592	2,744	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,495	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.0° S	39.9° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    BangladeshvsBosnia and Herzegovina

    Coastline: 580 vs 20 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Bangladesh against Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Category	Bangladesh	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	148,460	51,197	Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	171,466,990	3,185,073	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,155	23,376	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,155.0	62.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,060	2,386	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	580	20	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.3° N	44.1° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    DR CongovsUganda

    Population: 105,789,731 vs 48,656,601 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Uganda.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for DR Congo against Uganda

    Category	DR Congo	Uganda	Result
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	2,344,858	241,038	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	105,789,731	48,656,601	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,732	3,100	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.1	201.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,110	5,110	Would tie
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.9° S	2.0° N	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Lost22 countries · 3 lives left

    PortugalvsSpain

    Flag colours: 6 vs 10 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Portugal.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Portugal against Spain

    Category	Portugal	Spain	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	505,370	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	48,352,528	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	49,800	55,661	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	95.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	3,718	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	4,964	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6	10	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	40.0° N	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Lost21 countries · 2 lives left

    OmanvsNiger

    Density: 16.3 vs 20.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Oman.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Oman against Niger

    Category	Oman	Niger	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	309,500	1,267,000	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,049,269	26,159,867	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	41,980	1,903	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	16.3	20.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,004	2,022	Would win
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	2,092	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° N	17.6° N	Would lose