A little knowledge. An empire of 23.

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

   AzerbaijanvsTogo

   Highest peak: 4,466 vs 986 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Togo.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Azerbaijan against Togo

   Category	Azerbaijan	Togo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	86,600	56,785	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,153,958	8,223,850	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,671	3,572	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	144.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,466	986	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	56	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.5° N	8.9° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   CubavsDjibouti

   Area: 110,860 vs 23,200 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Djibouti.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cuba against Djibouti

   Category	Cuba	Djibouti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	110,860	23,200	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,019,931	1,152,944	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	Unavailable	7,232	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.4	49.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,974	2,021	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,735	314	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° N	11.4° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   MontenegrovsDenmark

   Proximity to equator: 42.8° N vs 55.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Denmark.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Montenegro against Denmark

   Category	Montenegro	Denmark	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,812	43,094	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	623,529	5,946,952	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	31,863	77,425	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.1	138.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,534	171	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	293.5	7,314	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	42.8° N	55.9° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   TunisiavsTürkiye

   Proximity to equator: 35.3° N vs 39.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Türkiye.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Tunisia against Türkiye

   Category	Tunisia	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,610	783,562	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	12,200,431	85,325,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,052	43,196	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,544	5,137	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,148	7,200	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	35.3° N	39.1° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   ItalyvsLatvia

   Proximity to equator: 45.1° N vs 56.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Latvia.

   Other category comparisons 7 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Italy against Latvia

   Category	Italy	Latvia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	301,340	64,589	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	58,984,216	1,883,710	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,350	42,784	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	195.7	29.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,748	312	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,600	498	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	45.1° N	56.6° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   LesothovsGreece

   Proximity to equator: 29.4° S vs 39.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Greece.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Lesotho against Greece

   Category	Lesotho	Greece	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,355	131,957	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,311,472	10,407,351	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,880	42,614	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	76.1	78.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,482	2,917	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	13,676	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	29.4° S	39.8° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   EcuadorvsMauritius

   Proximity to equator: 1.2° S vs 20.3° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Mauritius.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ecuador against Mauritius

   Category	Ecuador	Mauritius	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	283,561	2,040	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,980,083	1,248,647	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,907	29,403	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	63.4	612.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,267	828	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,237	177	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.2° S	20.3° S	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   CzechiavsMalta

   Area: 78,867 vs 316 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Malta.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Czechia against Malta

   Category	Czechia	Malta	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	78,867	316	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,864,042	552,747	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	56,062	67,101	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	137.8	1,749.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,602	253	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	196.8	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.8° N	35.9° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   North KoreavsSouth Sudan

   Population: 26,418,204 vs 11,483,374 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for North Korea against South Sudan

   Category	North Korea	South Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	120,538	644,329	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	26,418,204	11,483,374	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.. South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	219.2	17.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,744	3,187	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,495	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	7.1° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    MalawivsBosnia and Herzegovina

    Area: 118,484 vs 51,197 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Malawi against Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Category	Malawi	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	118,484	51,197	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	3,185,073	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	23,376	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	178.1	62.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	2,386	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	20	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	44.1° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    IranvsUkraine

    Population: 90,608,707 vs 37,732,836 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Ukraine.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Iran against Ukraine

    Category	Iran	Ukraine	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,648,195	603,550	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	90,608,707	37,732,836	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	17,680	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	62.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	2,061	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	2,782	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	49.6° N	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Won24 countries · 4 lives left

    IndiavsGuinea-Bissau

    Population: 1,438,069,596 vs 2,153,339 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Guinea-Bissau.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for India against Guinea-Bissau

    Category	India	Guinea-Bissau	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	3,287,263	36,125	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,438,069,596	2,153,339	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,853	2,956	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	437.5	59.6	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,586	277	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,000	350	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.4° N	12.1° N	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Lost23 countries · 3 lives left

    AzerbaijanvsSwitzerland

    Highest peak: 4,466 vs 4,634 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Azerbaijan.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Azerbaijan against Switzerland

    Category	Azerbaijan	Switzerland	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	86,600	41,277	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,153,958	8,888,822	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,671	93,940	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	215.3	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,466	4,634	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.5° N	46.7° N	Would win