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

   ZambiavsBotswana

   Population: 20,723,965 vs 2,480,244 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Botswana.

   What else would have worked? 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Zambia against Botswana

   Category	Zambia	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	752,618	581,730	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	20,723,965	2,480,244	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,080	21,029	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.5	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,330	1,495	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° S	22.1° S	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   United Arab EmiratesvsCabo Verde

   Wealth per person: 78,020 vs 10,251 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cabo Verde.

   What else would have worked? 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United Arab Emirates against Cabo Verde

   Category	United Arab Emirates	Cabo Verde	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,600	4,033	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,483,751	522,331	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	78,020	10,251	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.4	129.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,905	2,829	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,318	965	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	15.0° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   Sri LankavsBangladesh

   Proximity to equator: 7.1° N vs 24.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Bangladesh.

   What else would have worked? 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh

   Category	Sri Lanka	Bangladesh	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	65,610	148,460	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	22,037,000	171,466,990	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,512	9,155	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	335.9	1,155.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,524	1,060	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,340	580	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.1° N	24.3° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Lost14 countries · 3 lives left

   BahamasvsTimor-Leste

   Density: 28.8 vs 93.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Bahamas.

   What else would have worked? 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahamas against Timor-Leste

   Category	Bahamas	Timor-Leste	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	14,874	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	1,384,286	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	39,122	4,811	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	28.8	93.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	2,963	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,542	706	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	8.9° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Lost13 countries · 2 lives left

   ZimbabwevsYemen

   Proximity to equator: 19.0° S vs 15.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Zimbabwe.

   What else would have worked? 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Zimbabwe against Yemen

   Category	Zimbabwe	Yemen	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	390,757	527,968	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	16,340,822	39,390,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	5,796	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	41.8	74.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,592	3,666	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,906	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	19.0° S	15.3° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won14 countries · 2 lives left

   AustraliavsMozambique

   Area: 7,741,220 vs 799,380 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mozambique.

   What else would have worked? 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Australia against Mozambique

   Category	Australia	Mozambique	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,741,220	799,380	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,659,922	33,635,160	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,273	1,680	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.4	42.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,228	2,436	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	25,760	2,470	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.1° S	14.0° S	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won15 countries · 2 lives left

   MongoliavsNiger

   Area: 1,564,116 vs 1,267,000 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Niger.

   What else would have worked? 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mongolia against Niger

   Category	Mongolia	Niger	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,564,116	1,267,000	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,481,145	26,159,867	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,020	1,903	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	2.2	20.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,374	2,022	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	17.6° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won16 countries · 2 lives left

   UruguayvsLuxembourg

   Area: 176,215 vs 2,586 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Luxembourg.

   What else would have worked? 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uruguay against Luxembourg

   Category	Uruguay	Luxembourg	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	176,215	2,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,388,081	666,430	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	34,546	152,596	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	257.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	514	559	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	660	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.9° S	49.7° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won17 countries · 2 lives left

   SwitzerlandvsMoldova

   Wealth per person: 93,940 vs 17,751 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Moldova.

   What else would have worked? 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Switzerland against Moldova

   Category	Switzerland	Moldova	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	41,277	33,851	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,888,822	2,457,783	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	93,940	17,751	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	215.3	72.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,634	430	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	47.5° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won18 countries · 2 lives left

    SlovakiavsDjibouti

    Wealth per person: 45,865 vs 7,232 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Djibouti.

    What else would have worked? 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Slovakia against Djibouti

    Category	Slovakia	Djibouti	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	49,035	23,200	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,426,740	1,152,944	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45,865	7,232	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	110.7	49.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,655	2,021	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	314	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.7° N	11.4° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Lost17 countries · 1 life left

    Guinea-BissauvsDenmark

    Population: 2,153,339 vs 5,946,952 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Guinea-Bissau.

    What else would have worked? 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guinea-Bissau against Denmark

    Category	Guinea-Bissau	Denmark	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	36,125	43,094	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,153,339	5,946,952	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,956	77,425	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.6	138.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	277	171	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	350	7,314	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.1° N	55.9° N	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Won18 countries · 1 life left

    TunisiavsNetherlands

    Highest peak: 1,544 vs 322 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Netherlands.

    What else would have worked? 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Tunisia against Netherlands

    Category	Tunisia	Netherlands	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,610	41,543	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	12,200,431	17,877,117	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,052	80,392	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	430.3	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,544	322	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,148	451	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.3° N	52.2° N	Would win

13. 13
    Round 13Lost17 countries · 0 lives left

    ZambiavsUganda

    Population: 20,723,965 vs 48,656,601 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Zambia.

    What else would have worked? 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Zambia against Uganda

    Category	Zambia	Uganda	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	752,618	241,038	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	20,723,965	48,656,601	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,080	3,100	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.5	201.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,330	5,110	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° S	2.0° N	Would lose