A little knowledge. An empire of 19.

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

   BruneivsColombia

   Wealth per person: 85,103 vs 21,282 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Colombia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Brunei against Colombia

   Category	Brunei	Colombia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,765	1,138,910	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	458,949	52,321,152	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	85,103	21,282	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	79.6	45.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,850	5,730	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	3,208	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.5° N	3.4° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   South SudanvsRussia

   Density: 17.8 vs 8.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Russia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Sudan against Russia

   Category	South Sudan	Russia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	644,329	17,098,242	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,483,374	143,826,130	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	Unavailable	44,299	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	17.8	8.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,187	5,642	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	37,653	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.1° N	63.6° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   NigervsPortugal

   Area: 1,267,000 vs 92,090 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Portugal.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Niger against Portugal

   Category	Niger	Portugal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,267,000	92,090	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,159,867	10,578,174	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,903	49,800	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.6	114.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,022	2,351	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,793	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.6° N	40.7° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   Equatorial GuineavsCyprus

   Area: 28,051 vs 9,251 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cyprus.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against Cyprus

   Category	Equatorial Guinea	Cyprus	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	28,051	9,251	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	1,344,976	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,997	59,875	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	145.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	1,951	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	648	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.6° N	34.9° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   SloveniavsBrazil

   Density: 104.6 vs 24.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Brazil.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Slovenia against Brazil

   Category	Slovenia	Brazil	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	20,273	8,515,770	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,120,461	211,140,729	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	56,151	21,193	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	104.6	24.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,864	2,994	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	46.6	7,491	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	12.6° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   GabonvsLibya

   Density: 9.3 vs 4.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Libya.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Gabon against Libya

   Category	Gabon	Libya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	267,667	1,759,540	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,484,789	7,305,659	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	20,773	13,858	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9.3	4.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,050	2,267	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	885	1,770	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.6° S	26.1° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   DR CongovsIraq

   Population: 105,789,731 vs 45,074,049 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Iraq.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for DR Congo against Iraq

   Category	DR Congo	Iraq	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,344,858	438,317	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	105,789,731	45,074,049	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,732	14,665	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.1	102.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,110	3,611	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37	58	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.9° S	33.3° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   UruguayvsTurkmenistan

   Coastline: 660 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Turkmenistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uruguay against Turkmenistan

   Category	Uruguay	Turkmenistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	176,215	488,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,388,081	7,364,438	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	34,546	19,645	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	15.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	514	3,139	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	660	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.9° S	39.9° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Lost19 countries · 3 lives left

   MalawivsMalaysia

   Proximity to equator: 13.4° S vs 4.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Malawi.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Malawi against Malaysia

   Category	Malawi	Malaysia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	329,847	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	35,126,298	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	36,497	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	178.1	106.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	4,095	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,675	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	13.4° S	4.4° N	Would lose