A little knowledge. An empire of 17.

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

   NicaraguavsMoldova

   Proximity to equator: 12.6° N vs 47.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Moldova.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Nicaragua against Moldova

   Category	Nicaragua	Moldova	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	130,370	33,851	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,823,613	2,457,783	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	8,327	17,751	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	52.3	72.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,085	430	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	910	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	9	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.6° N	47.5° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   BrazilvsUkraine

   Area: 8,515,770 vs 603,550 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ukraine.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Brazil against Ukraine

   Category	Brazil	Ukraine	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8,515,770	603,550	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	211,140,729	37,732,836	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,193	17,680	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	24.8	62.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,994	2,061	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,491	2,782	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.6° S	49.6° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   RwandavsJamaica

   Proximity to equator: 1.8° S vs 18.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Jamaica.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Rwanda against Jamaica

   Category	Rwanda	Jamaica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	26,338	10,991	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,954,471	2,839,786	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,519	12,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	529.8	258.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,519	2,256	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,022	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.8° S	18.1° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   EswatinivsTrinidad and Tobago

   Highest peak: 1,862 vs 940 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Trinidad and Tobago.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Eswatini against Trinidad and Tobago

   Category	Eswatini	Trinidad and Tobago	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,364	5,128	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,230,506	1,367,510	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,309	34,652	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	70.9	266.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,862	940	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	362	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.6° S	10.3° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   Bosnia and HerzegovinavsNetherlands

   Proximity to equator: 44.1° N vs 52.2° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Netherlands.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Netherlands

   Category	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Netherlands	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,197	41,543	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,185,073	17,877,117	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,376	80,392	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	62.2	430.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,386	322	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	20	451	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	44.1° N	52.2° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   UruguayvsBhutan

   Area: 176,215 vs 38,394 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bhutan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uruguay against Bhutan

   Category	Uruguay	Bhutan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	176,215	38,394	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,388,081	786,385	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	34,546	16,229	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	20.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	514	7,570	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	660	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.9° S	27.5° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   GuatemalavsCambodia

   Proximity to equator: 15.0° N vs 12.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Guatemala.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guatemala against Cambodia

   Category	Guatemala	Cambodia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	108,889	181,035	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,124,838	17,423,880	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,752	7,437	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	166.5	96.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,220	1,810	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	400	443	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.0° N	12.6° N	Would lose