A little knowledge. An empire of 16.

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

   LithuaniavsEthiopia

   Wealth per person: 52,720 vs 3,063 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ethiopia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Lithuania against Ethiopia

   Category	Lithuania	Ethiopia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	65,300	1,104,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,871,585	128,691,692	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	52,720	3,063	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	44.0	116.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	294	4,550	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	90	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	55.1° N	8.5° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Lost12 countries · 3 lives left

   Trinidad and TobagovsPeru

   Coastline: 362 vs 2,414 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Trinidad and Tobago.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Trinidad and Tobago against Peru

   Category	Trinidad and Tobago	Peru	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,128	1,285,216	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,367,510	33,845,617	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	34,652	17,042	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	266.7	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	940	6,746	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	362	2,414	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.3° N	13.0° S	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won13 countries · 3 lives left

   United StatesvsGuinea

   Area: 9,833,517 vs 245,857 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United States against Guinea

   Category	United States	Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,833,517	245,857	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	336,755,052	14,405,468	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	82,587	4,337	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	34.2	58.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,190	1,752	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	19,924	320	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.1° N	10.7° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Lost12 countries · 2 lives left

   Sierra LeonevsBrunei

   Wealth per person: 3,371 vs 85,103 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Sierra Leone.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sierra Leone against Brunei

   Category	Sierra Leone	Brunei	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	71,740	5,765	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,460,512	458,949	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,371	85,103	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.9	79.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,948	1,850	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	161	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.7° N	4.5° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won13 countries · 2 lives left

   SenegalvsNiger

   Coastline: 531 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Niger.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Senegal against Niger

   Category	Senegal	Niger	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	196,722	1,267,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,077,573	26,159,867	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,782	1,903	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	91.9	20.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	648	2,022	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	531	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.2° N	17.6° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won14 countries · 2 lives left

   AlgeriavsBhutan

   Area: 2,381,740 vs 38,394 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bhutan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Algeria against Bhutan

   Category	Algeria	Bhutan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,381,740	38,394	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	46,164,219	786,385	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,838	16,229	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.4	20.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,908	7,570	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	998	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.4° N	27.5° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won15 countries · 2 lives left

   EcuadorvsSudan

   Proximity to equator: 1.2° S vs 16.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ecuador against Sudan

   Category	Ecuador	Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	283,561	1,861,484	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,980,083	50,042,791	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,907	2,423	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	63.4	26.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,267	3,042	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,237	853	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.2° S	16.6° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won16 countries · 2 lives left

   PolandvsNicaragua

   Wealth per person: 48,473 vs 8,327 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nicaragua.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Poland against Nicaragua

   Category	Poland	Nicaragua	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	312,685	130,370	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	36,687,353	6,823,613	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,473	8,327	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	52.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,499	2,085	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	440	910	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.9° N	12.6° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won17 countries · 2 lives left

   ThailandvsAzerbaijan

   Coastline: 3,219 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Azerbaijan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Thailand against Azerbaijan

   Category	Thailand	Azerbaijan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	513,120	86,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	71,702,435	10,153,958	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,598	23,671	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	139.7	117.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,565	4,466	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,219	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.5° N	40.5° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost16 countries · 1 life left

    South AfricavsSpain

    Flag colours: 6 vs 10 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: South Africa.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for South Africa against Spain

    Category	South Africa	Spain	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,219,090	505,370	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	63,212,384	48,352,528	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,212	55,661	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	51.9	95.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,450	3,718	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,798	4,964	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6	10	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.2° S	40.0° N	Would win