A little knowledge. An empire of 18.

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

   SwedenvsPakistan

   Wealth per person: 68,458 vs 6,019 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Pakistan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Sweden against Pakistan

   Category	Sweden	Pakistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	450,295	796,095	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,536,632	247,504,495	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	68,458	6,019	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	23.4	310.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,100	8,611	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,218	1,046	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	65.8° N	27.8° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   GuineavsSouth Sudan

   Coastline: 320 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea against South Sudan

   Category	Guinea	South Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	644,329	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	11,483,374	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	4,337	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	17.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	3,187	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	320	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.7° N	7.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   SerbiavsKenya

   Wealth per person: 29,777 vs 6,322 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kenya.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Serbia against Kenya

   Category	Serbia	Kenya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	77,474	580,367	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,623,183	55,339,003	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	29,777	6,322	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	85.5	95.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,169	5,199	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	536	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	44.2° N	0.4° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   Guinea-BissauvsGeorgia

   Proximity to equator: 12.1° N vs 42.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Georgia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea-Bissau against Georgia

   Category	Guinea-Bissau	Georgia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	36,125	69,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,153,339	3,715,483	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,956	25,093	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.6	53.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	277	5,193	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	350	310	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.1° N	42.4° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   EgyptvsBotswana

   Area: 1,001,450 vs 581,730 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Botswana.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Egypt against Botswana

   Category	Egypt	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,001,450	581,730	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	114,535,772	2,480,244	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,540	21,029	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.4	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,629	1,495	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,450	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.3° N	22.1° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Tied17 countries · 4 lives left

   LuxembourgvsYemen

   Flag colours: 3 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Yemen became contested.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Luxembourg against Yemen

   Category	Luxembourg	Yemen	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,586	527,968	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	666,430	39,390,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	152,596	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	257.7	74.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	559	3,666	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,906	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.7° N	15.3° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   MauritaniavsTürkiye

   Coastline: 754 vs 7,200 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Mauritania, Yemen.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mauritania against Türkiye

   Category	Mauritania	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,030,700	783,562	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,022,441	85,325,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,972	43,196	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.9	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	915	5,137	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	754	7,200	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.4° N	39.1° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won17 countries · 3 lives left

   GuyanavsCzechia

   Area: 214,969 vs 78,867 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Czechia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guyana against Czechia

   Category	Guyana	Czechia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	214,969	78,867	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	826,353	10,864,042	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	54,774	56,062	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	137.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,775	1,602	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	459	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.7° N	49.8° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won18 countries · 3 lives left

   VenezuelavsHungary

   Area: 912,050 vs 93,028 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Hungary.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Venezuela against Hungary

   Category	Venezuela	Hungary	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	912,050	93,028	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,300,854	9,592,186	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	Unavailable	46,376	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	31.0	103.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,978	1,014	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,800	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.2° N	47.3° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won19 countries · 3 lives left

    Bosnia and HerzegovinavsUganda

    Wealth per person: 23,376 vs 3,100 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Uganda.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Uganda

    Category	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Uganda	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,197	241,038	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,185,073	48,656,601	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	23,376	3,100	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	62.2	201.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,386	5,110	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	20	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	44.1° N	2.0° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Lost18 countries · 2 lives left

    MoroccovsMexico

    Wealth per person: 9,903 vs 25,188 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Morocco.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Morocco against Mexico

    Category	Morocco	Mexico	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	446,550	1,964,375	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	37,712,505	129,739,759	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,903	25,188	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	84.5	66.0	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,165	5,636	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,835	9,330	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	11	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	31.9° N	23.5° N	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Won19 countries · 2 lives left

    MongoliavsNew Zealand

    Area: 1,564,116 vs 268,838 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered New Zealand.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Mongolia against New Zealand

    Category	Mongolia	New Zealand	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,564,116	268,838	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,481,145	5,200,000	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,020	54,950	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	2.2	19.3	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,374	3,724	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	15,134	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	45.3° S	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Won20 countries · 2 lives left

    SwedenvsMaldives

    Coastline: 3,218 vs 644 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Maldives.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Sweden against Maldives

    Category	Sweden	Maldives	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	450,295	298	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,536,632	525,994	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	68,458	24,807	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	23.4	1,765.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,100	5	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,218	644	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	65.8° N	3.3° N	Would lose

14. 14
    Round 14Lost19 countries · 1 life left

    PakistanvsSri Lanka

    Density: 310.9 vs 335.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Pakistan.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Pakistan against Sri Lanka

    Category	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	796,095	65,610	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	247,504,495	22,037,000	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,019	14,512	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	310.9	335.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,611	2,524	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,046	1,340	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.8° N	7.1° N	Would lose

15. 15
    Round 15Lost18 countries · 0 lives left

    GuineavsSuriname

    Coastline: 320 vs 386 km · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Guinea.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guinea against Suriname

    Category	Guinea	Suriname	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	163,820	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	628,886	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	21,128	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	3.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	1,230	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	320	386	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.7° N	4.1° N	Would lose