A little knowledge. An empire of 38.

Every comparison uses this expedition’s original data and rules. “Would win” describes this matchup only; a different choice would change the later journey.

21. 21
    Round 21Lost31 countries · 3 lives left

    DjiboutivsTimor-Leste

    Proximity to equator: 11.4° N vs 8.9° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Returned to the world: Djibouti.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Djibouti against Timor-Leste

    Category	Djibouti	Timor-Leste	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	23,200	14,874	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,152,944	1,384,286	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,232	4,811	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	49.7	93.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,021	2,963	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	314	706	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	11.4° N	8.9° S	Would lose

22. 22
    Round 22Won32 countries · 3 lives left

    MalawivsCzechia

    Area: 118,484 vs 78,867 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Czechia.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Malawi against Czechia

    Category	Malawi	Czechia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	118,484	78,867	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	10,864,042	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	56,062	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	178.1	137.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	1,602	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	49.8° N	Would win

23. 23
    Round 23Won33 countries · 3 lives left

    ColombiavsThailand

    Highest peak: 5,730 vs 2,565 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Thailand.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Colombia against Thailand

    Category	Colombia	Thailand	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,138,910	513,120	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	52,321,152	71,702,435	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,282	23,598	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.9	139.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,730	2,565	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,208	3,219	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.4° N	15.5° N	Would win

24. 24
    Round 24Won34 countries · 3 lives left

    MauritaniavsUnited Kingdom

    Proximity to equator: 19.4° N vs 52.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered United Kingdom.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Mauritania against United Kingdom

    Category	Mauritania	United Kingdom	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,030,700	243,610	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,022,441	68,526,000	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,972	60,787	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.9	281.3	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	915	1,345	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	754	12,429	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	19.4° N	52.5° N	Would win

25. 25
    Round 25Won35 countries · 3 lives left

    El SalvadorvsZimbabwe

    Wealth per person: 12,667 vs 5,796 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Zimbabwe.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for El Salvador against Zimbabwe

    Category	El Salvador	Zimbabwe	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	390,757	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	16,340,822	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	12,667	5,796	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	299.9	41.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	2,592	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	6	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	19.0° S	Would win

26. 26
    Round 26Won36 countries · 3 lives left

    BeninvsUganda

    Coastline: 121 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Uganda.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Benin against Uganda

    Category	Benin	Uganda	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,622	241,038	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,111,034	48,656,601	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,133	3,100	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.3	201.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	675	5,110	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	121	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.4° N	2.0° N	Would lose

27. 27
    Round 27Won37 countries · 3 lives left

    IranvsUnited Arab Emirates

    Population: 90,608,707 vs 10,483,751 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered United Arab Emirates.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Iran against United Arab Emirates

    Category	Iran	United Arab Emirates	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,648,195	83,600	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	90,608,707	10,483,751	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	78,020	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	125.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	1,905	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	1,318	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	23.5° N	Would lose

28. 28
    Round 28Won38 countries · 3 lives left

    QatarvsSweden

    Proximity to equator: 25.1° N vs 65.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Sweden.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Qatar against Sweden

    Category	Qatar	Sweden	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,586	450,295	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,656,032	10,536,632	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	129,025	68,458	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	229.2	23.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	103	2,100	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	563	3,218	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	25.1° N	65.8° N	Would win

29. 29
    Round 29Lost37 countries · 2 lives left

    AzerbaijanvsCuba

    Area: 86,600 vs 110,860 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Azerbaijan.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Azerbaijan against Cuba

    Category	Azerbaijan	Cuba	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	86,600	110,860	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,153,958	11,019,931	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	23,671	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	99.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,466	1,974	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,735	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.5° N	20.6° N	Would lose

30. 30
    Round 30Won38 countries · 2 lives left

    GuineavsEgypt

    Proximity to equator: 10.7° N vs 26.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Egypt.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guinea against Egypt

    Category	Guinea	Egypt	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	1,001,450	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	114,535,772	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	18,540	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	114.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	2,629	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	320	2,450	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.7° N	26.3° N	Would win

31. 31
    Round 31Won39 countries · 2 lives left

    OmanvsMalaysia

    Wealth per person: 41,980 vs 36,497 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Malaysia.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Oman against Malaysia

    Category	Oman	Malaysia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	309,500	329,847	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,049,269	35,126,298	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	41,980	36,497	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.3	106.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,004	4,095	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,092	4,675	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° N	4.4° N	Would lose

32. 32
    Round 32Won40 countries · 2 lives left

    North KoreavsMalta

    Population: 26,418,204 vs 552,747 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Malta.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for North Korea against Malta

    Category	North Korea	Malta	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	120,538	316	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	26,418,204	552,747	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	Unavailable	67,101	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	219.2	1,749.2	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,744	253	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,495	196.8	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	35.9° N	Would lose

33. 33
    Round 33Lost39 countries · 1 life left

    MauritiusvsNorth Macedonia

    Area: 2,040 vs 25,713 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Mauritius.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Mauritius against North Macedonia

    Category	Mauritius	North Macedonia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,040	25,713	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,248,647	1,827,816	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	29,403	25,354	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	612.1	71.1	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	828	2,764	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	177	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.3° S	41.5° N	Would win

34. 34
    Round 34Lost38 countries · 0 lives left

    BelarusvsUruguay

    Highest peak: 346 vs 514 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Belarus.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Belarus against Uruguay

    Category	Belarus	Uruguay	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	207,600	176,215	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,178,298	3,388,081	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	30,860	34,546	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	44.2	19.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	346	514	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	660	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	53.8° N	32.9° S	Would lose