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

   EritreavsEswatini

   Area: 117,600 vs 17,364 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Eswatini.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Eritrea against Eswatini

   Category	Eritrea	Eswatini	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	117,600	17,364	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,470,390	1,230,506	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	Unavailable	11,309	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.5	70.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,018	1,862	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,234	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	16.0° N	26.6° S	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   TanzaniavsNigeria

   Highest peak: 5,895 vs 2,419 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nigeria.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Tanzania against Nigeria

   Category	Tanzania	Nigeria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	947,300	923,768	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	66,617,606	227,882,945	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,022	8,712	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	70.3	246.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,895	2,419	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,424	853	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	5.5° S	9.4° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   BruneivsAzerbaijan

   Wealth per person: 85,103 vs 23,671 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Azerbaijan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Brunei against Azerbaijan

   Category	Brunei	Azerbaijan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,765	86,600	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	458,949	10,153,958	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	85,103	23,671	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	79.6	117.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,850	4,466	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.5° N	40.5° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   ItalyvsSenegal

   Wealth per person: 60,350 vs 4,782 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Senegal.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Italy against Senegal

   Category	Italy	Senegal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	301,340	196,722	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	58,984,216	18,077,573	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	60,350	4,782	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	195.7	91.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,748	648	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,600	531	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.1° N	15.2° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   ChadvsMalawi

   Area: 1,284,000 vs 118,484 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Malawi.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Chad against Malawi

   Category	Chad	Malawi	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,284,000	118,484	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,319,064	21,104,482	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,703	1,832	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.0	178.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,445	3,002	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.3° N	13.4° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   UgandavsUnited Arab Emirates

   Area: 241,038 vs 83,600 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered United Arab Emirates.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uganda against United Arab Emirates

   Category	Uganda	United Arab Emirates	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	241,038	83,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	48,656,601	10,483,751	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,100	78,020	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	201.9	125.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,110	1,905	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,318	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.0° N	23.5° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   YemenvsIraq

   Density: 74.6 vs 102.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Yemen.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Yemen against Iraq

   Category	Yemen	Iraq	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	527,968	438,317	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	39,390,799	45,074,049	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	Unavailable	14,665	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	74.6	102.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,666	3,611	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,906	58	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.3° N	33.3° N	Would win