A little knowledge. An empire of 14.

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

   MaldivesvsEswatini

   Coastline: 644 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Eswatini.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Maldives against Eswatini

   Category	Maldives	Eswatini	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	17,364	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	1,230,506	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,807	11,309	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,765.1	70.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	1,862	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	644	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.3° N	26.6° S	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   BulgariavsTunisia

   Wealth per person: 38,829 vs 14,052 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tunisia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bulgaria against Tunisia

   Category	Bulgaria	Tunisia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	110,879	163,610	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,446,596	12,200,431	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	38,829	14,052	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.1	74.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,925	1,544	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	354	1,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	35.3° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   MalawivsVenezuela

   Density: 178.1 vs 31.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Venezuela.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malawi against Venezuela

   Category	Malawi	Venezuela	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	912,050	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	28,300,854	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	1,832	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	178.1	31.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	4,978	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,800	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	7.2° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Lost14 countries · 3 lives left

   MontenegrovsItaly

   Density: 45.1 vs 195.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Montenegro.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Montenegro against Italy

   Category	Montenegro	Italy	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,812	301,340	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	623,529	58,984,216	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	31,863	60,350	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45.1	195.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,534	4,748	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	293.5	7,600	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.8° N	45.1° N	Would win