A little knowledge. An empire of 20.

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

   LesothovsIceland

   Population: 2,311,472 vs 385,663 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Iceland.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Lesotho against Iceland

   Category	Lesotho	Iceland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,355	103,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,311,472	385,663	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,880	82,257	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	76.1	3.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,482	2,110	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,970	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° S	64.7° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   IraqvsSouth Sudan

   Population: 45,074,049 vs 11,483,374 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iraq against South Sudan

   Category	Iraq	South Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	438,317	644,329	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45,074,049	11,483,374	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	14,665	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	102.8	17.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,611	3,187	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	58	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	33.3° N	7.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   BotswanavsSenegal

   Area: 581,730 vs 196,722 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Senegal.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Botswana against Senegal

   Category	Botswana	Senegal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	581,730	196,722	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,480,244	18,077,573	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,029	4,782	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.3	91.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,495	648	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	531	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° S	15.2° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   MaldivesvsGeorgia

   Coastline: 644 vs 310 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Georgia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Maldives against Georgia

   Category	Maldives	Georgia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	69,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	3,715,483	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,807	25,093	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,765.1	53.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	5,193	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	644	310	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.3° N	42.4° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   HungaryvsPapua New Guinea

   Wealth per person: 46,376 vs 4,672 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Papua New Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Hungary against Papua New Guinea

   Category	Hungary	Papua New Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	93,028	462,840	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,592,186	10,389,635	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	46,376	4,672	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	103.1	22.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,014	4,509	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	5,152	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.3° N	5.5° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   IndonesiavsPakistan

   Population: 281,190,067 vs 247,504,495 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Pakistan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Indonesia against Pakistan

   Category	Indonesia	Pakistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,904,569	796,095	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	281,190,067	247,504,495	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,428	6,019	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	147.6	310.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,884	8,611	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	54,716	1,046	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.0° S	27.8° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   Cabo VerdevsYemen

   Density: 129.5 vs 74.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Yemen.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cabo Verde against Yemen

   Category	Cabo Verde	Yemen	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	4,033	527,968	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	522,331	39,390,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	10,251	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129.5	74.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,829	3,666	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	965	1,906	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.0° N	15.3° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   CameroonvsJapan

   Proximity to equator: 4.5° N vs 36.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Japan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cameroon against Japan

   Category	Cameroon	Japan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	475,440	377,915	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,372,687	124,516,650	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,415	52,726	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.7	329.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,045	3,776	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	29,751	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	4.5° N	36.7° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   MongoliavsCuba

   Area: 1,564,116 vs 110,860 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cuba.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Mongolia against Cuba

   Category	Mongolia	Cuba	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,564,116	110,860	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,481,145	11,019,931	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	18,020	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	2.2	99.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,374	1,974	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,735	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	20.6° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    SpainvsUnited Arab Emirates

    Wealth per person: 55,661 vs 78,020 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Spain.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Spain against United Arab Emirates

    Category	Spain	United Arab Emirates	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	505,370	83,600	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	48,352,528	10,483,751	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	55,661	78,020	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.7	125.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,718	1,905	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,964	1,318	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.0° N	23.5° N	Would lose