A little knowledge. An empire of 33.

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

    LesothovsEcuador

    Wealth per person: 2,880 vs 15,907 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Lesotho.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Lesotho against Ecuador

    Category	Lesotho	Ecuador	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,355	283,561	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,311,472	17,980,083	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,880	15,907	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	76.1	63.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,482	6,267	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,237	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	11	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° S	1.2° S	Would lose

22. 22
    Round 22Won32 countries · 3 lives left

    AndorravsSyria

    Highest peak: 2,946 vs 2,814 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Syria.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Andorra against Syria

    Category	Andorra	Syria	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	468	187,437	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	80,856	23,594,623	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	71,790	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	172.8	125.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,946	2,814	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	193	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	35.0° N	Would lose

23. 23
    Round 23Won33 countries · 3 lives left

    AfghanistanvsUkraine

    Highest peak: 7,492 vs 2,061 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Ukraine.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Afghanistan against Ukraine

    Category	Afghanistan	Ukraine	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	652,230	603,550	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	41,454,761	37,732,836	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,204	17,680	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	63.6	62.5	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,492	2,061	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,782	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.3° N	49.6° N	Would win

24. 24
    Round 24Lost32 countries · 2 lives left

    BahamasvsNetherlands

    Area: 13,880 vs 41,543 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Bahamas.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Bahamas against Netherlands

    Category	Bahamas	Netherlands	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,880	41,543	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	17,877,117	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	39,122	80,392	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	430.3	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	322	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,542	451	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	52.2° N	Would win

25. 25
    Round 25Won33 countries · 2 lives left

    Timor-LestevsBulgaria

    Flag colours: 4 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Bulgaria.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Timor-Leste against Bulgaria

    Category	Timor-Leste	Bulgaria	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	14,874	110,879	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,384,286	6,446,596	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,811	38,829	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	93.1	58.1	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	2,925	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	706	354	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.9° S	42.5° N	Would win

26. 26
    Round 26Lost32 countries · 1 life left

    YemenvsIndia

    Flag colours: 3 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Yemen.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Yemen against India

    Category	Yemen	India	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	527,968	3,287,263	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	39,390,799	1,438,069,596	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	Unavailable	9,853	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	437.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,666	8,586	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,906	7,000	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.3° N	22.4° N	Would win

27. 27
    Round 27Won33 countries · 1 life left

    PortugalvsCosta Rica

    Wealth per person: 49,800 vs 29,248 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Costa Rica.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Portugal against Costa Rica

    Category	Portugal	Costa Rica	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	51,100	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	5,105,525	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49,800	29,248	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	99.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	3,819	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	1,290	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	10.1° N	Would lose

28. 28
    Round 28Won34 countries · 1 life left

    GreecevsMauritius

    Area: 131,957 vs 2,040 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Mauritius.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Greece against Mauritius

    Category	Greece	Mauritius	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	131,957	2,040	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,407,351	1,248,647	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	42,614	29,403	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	78.9	612.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,917	828	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	13,676	177	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.8° N	20.3° S	Would lose

29. 29
    Round 29Lost33 countries · 0 lives left

    BoliviavsIraq

    Wealth per person: 12,903 vs 14,665 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Bolivia.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Bolivia against Iraq

    Category	Bolivia	Iraq	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,098,581	438,317	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	12,244,159	45,074,049	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	12,903	14,665	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	11.1	102.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,542	3,611	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	58	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	16.7° S	33.3° N	Would win