A little knowledge. An empire of 15.

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 1Lost11 countries · 3 lives left

   Bosnia and HerzegovinavsBangladesh

   Density: 62.2 vs 1,155.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Bosnia and Herzegovina.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Bangladesh

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

2. 2
   Round 2Lost10 countries · 2 lives left

   NetherlandsvsSuriname

   Area: 41,543 vs 163,820 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Netherlands.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Netherlands against Suriname

   Category	Netherlands	Suriname	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	41,543	163,820	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,877,117	628,886	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	80,392	21,128	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	430.3	3.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	322	1,230	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	451	386	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	52.2° N	4.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won11 countries · 2 lives left

   AlbaniavsDjibouti

   Area: 28,748 vs 23,200 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Djibouti.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Albania against Djibouti

   Category	Albania	Djibouti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	28,748	23,200	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,411,658	1,152,944	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,848	7,232	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	83.9	49.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,764	2,021	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	314	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	11.4° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Lost10 countries · 1 life left

   IraqvsAngola

   Coastline: 58 vs 1,600 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Iraq.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iraq against Angola

   Category	Iraq	Angola	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	438,317	1,246,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	45,074,049	36,749,906	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,665	9,550	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	102.8	29.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,611	2,620	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	58	1,600	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	33.3° N	13.2° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won11 countries · 1 life left

   North KoreavsMauritania

   Coastline: 2,495 vs 754 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mauritania.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for North Korea against Mauritania

   Category	North Korea	Mauritania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	120,538	1,030,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,418,204	5,022,441	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	Unavailable	6,972	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	219.2	4.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,744	915	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,495	754	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	19.4° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won12 countries · 1 life left

   Papua New GuineavsSpain

   Coastline: 5,152 vs 4,964 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Spain.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Papua New Guinea against Spain

   Category	Papua New Guinea	Spain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	462,840	505,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,389,635	48,352,528	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,672	55,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	22.4	95.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,509	3,718	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,152	4,964	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	5.5° S	40.0° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won13 countries · 1 life left

   NamibiavsRomania

   Proximity to equator: 20.6° S vs 45.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Romania.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Namibia against Romania

   Category	Namibia	Romania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	824,292	238,391	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,963,095	19,061,062	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,248	45,982	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.6	80.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,573	2,544	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,572	225	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	20.6° S	45.7° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won14 countries · 1 life left

   Sierra LeonevsCanada

   Proximity to equator: 8.7° N vs 58.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Canada.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sierra Leone against Canada

   Category	Sierra Leone	Canada	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	71,740	9,984,670	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,460,512	40,049,088	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,371	64,962	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.9	4.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,948	5,959	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	202,080	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	8.7° N	58.8° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won15 countries · 1 life left

   SingaporevsBhutan

   Coastline: 193 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bhutan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Singapore against Bhutan

   Category	Singapore	Bhutan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	719	38,394	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,917,648	786,385	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	144,728	16,229	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8,230.4	20.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	166	7,570	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	193	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.4° N	27.5° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won16 countries · 1 life left

    AndorravsIndia

    Wealth per person: 71,790 vs 9,853 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered India.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Andorra against India

    Category	Andorra	India	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	468	3,287,263	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	80,856	1,438,069,596	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	71,790	9,853	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	172.8	437.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,946	8,586	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	7,000	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	22.4° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Lost15 countries · 0 lives left

    TürkiyevsMali

    Area: 783,562 vs 1,240,192 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Türkiye.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Türkiye against Mali

    Category	Türkiye	Mali	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	783,562	1,240,192	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	85,325,965	23,769,127	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	43,196	3,178	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	19.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,137	1,155	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,200	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.1° N	18.6° N	Would lose