A little knowledge. An empire of 19.

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

   LaosvsMoldova

   Area: 236,800 vs 33,851 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Moldova.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Laos against Moldova

   Category	Laos	Moldova	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	236,800	33,851	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,664,993	2,457,783	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,299	17,751	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	32.4	72.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,817	430	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.6° N	47.5° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   BulgariavsSouth Sudan

   Density: 58.1 vs 17.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Bulgaria against South Sudan

   Category	Bulgaria	South Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	110,879	644,329	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,446,596	11,483,374	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	38,829	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	58.1	17.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,925	3,187	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	354	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	7.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   MontenegrovsJamaica

   Wealth per person: 31,863 vs 12,661 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Jamaica.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Montenegro against Jamaica

   Category	Montenegro	Jamaica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,812	10,991	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	623,529	2,839,786	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	31,863	12,661	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.1	258.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,534	2,256	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	293.5	1,022	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.8° N	18.1° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   GabonvsBenin

   Area: 267,667 vs 112,622 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Benin.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Gabon against Benin

   Category	Gabon	Benin	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	267,667	112,622	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,484,789	14,111,034	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	20,773	4,133	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	9.3	125.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,050	675	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	885	121	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.6° S	10.4° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   SurinamevsKyrgyzstan

   Wealth per person: 21,128 vs 7,304 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kyrgyzstan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Suriname against Kyrgyzstan

   Category	Suriname	Kyrgyzstan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,820	199,951	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	628,886	7,099,750	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	21,128	7,304	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	35.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,230	7,439	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.1° N	41.7° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   RussiavsSaudi Arabia

   Area: 17,098,242 vs 2,149,690 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Saudi Arabia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Russia against Saudi Arabia

   Category	Russia	Saudi Arabia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	17,098,242	2,149,690	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	143,826,130	33,702,731	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	44,299	71,624	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.4	15.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,642	3,000	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37,653	2,640	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.6° N	23.5° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   Solomon IslandsvsUruguay

   Density: 27.7 vs 19.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Uruguay.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Solomon Islands against Uruguay

   Category	Solomon Islands	Uruguay	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,896	176,215	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	800,005	3,388,081	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,599	34,546	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	27.7	19.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,335	514	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	5,313	660	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	9.6° S	32.9° S	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   MalaysiavsZambia

   Population: 35,126,298 vs 20,723,965 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Zambia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malaysia against Zambia

   Category	Malaysia	Zambia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	329,847	752,618	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	35,126,298	20,723,965	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	36,497	4,080	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	106.5	27.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,095	2,330	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,675	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.4° N	14.7° S	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Lost19 countries · 3 lives left

   Timor-LestevsDominican Republic

   Highest peak: 2,963 vs 3,098 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Timor-Leste.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Timor-Leste against Dominican Republic

   Category	Timor-Leste	Dominican Republic	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	14,874	48,670	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,384,286	11,331,265	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,811	25,861	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	93.1	232.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,963	3,098	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	706	1,288	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.9° S	19.1° N	Would win