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

   ColombiavsBrunei

   Population: 52,321,152 vs 458,949 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Brunei.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Colombia against Brunei

   Category	Colombia	Brunei	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,138,910	5,765	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	52,321,152	458,949	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,282	85,103	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.9	79.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,730	1,850	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,208	161	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.4° N	4.5° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   LaosvsAustria

   Area: 236,800 vs 83,871 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Austria.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Laos against Austria

   Category	Laos	Austria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	236,800	83,871	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,664,993	9,131,761	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,299	74,261	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	32.4	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,817	3,798	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.6° N	47.7° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   FijivsZambia

   Coastline: 1,129 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Zambia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Fiji against Zambia

   Category	Fiji	Zambia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	18,274	752,618	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	924,145	20,723,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,656	4,080	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	50.6	27.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,324	2,330	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,129	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.8° S	14.7° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   Trinidad and TobagovsRepublic of the Congo

   Coastline: 362 vs 169 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Republic of the Congo.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Trinidad and Tobago against Republic of the Congo

   Category	Trinidad and Tobago	Republic of the Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,128	342,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,367,510	6,182,885	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	34,652	6,856	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	266.7	18.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	940	1,020	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	362	169	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.3° N	0.1° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   QatarvsSlovenia

   Wealth per person: 129,025 vs 56,151 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Slovenia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Qatar against Slovenia

   Category	Qatar	Slovenia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,586	20,273	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,656,032	2,120,461	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129,025	56,151	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	229.2	104.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	103	2,864	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	563	46.6	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	25.1° N	46.0° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   AlgeriavsLithuania

   Area: 2,381,740 vs 65,300 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lithuania.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Algeria against Lithuania

   Category	Algeria	Lithuania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,381,740	65,300	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	46,164,219	2,871,585	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,838	52,720	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.4	44.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,908	294	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	998	90	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.4° N	55.1° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   BahamasvsNiger

   Coastline: 3,542 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Niger.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahamas against Niger

   Category	Bahamas	Niger	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	1,267,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	26,159,867	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	39,122	1,903	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	20.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	2,022	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,542	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	17.6° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   EcuadorvsBotswana

   Proximity to equator: 1.2° S vs 22.1° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Botswana.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ecuador against Botswana

   Category	Ecuador	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	283,561	581,730	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,980,083	2,480,244	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,907	21,029	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	63.4	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,267	1,495	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,237	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.2° S	22.1° S	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Lost19 countries · 3 lives left

   KenyavsIran

   Highest peak: 5,199 vs 5,625 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Kenya.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kenya against Iran

   Category	Kenya	Iran	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	580,367	1,648,195	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	55,339,003	90,608,707	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,322	18,933	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.4	55.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,199	5,625	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	536	2,440	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.4° N	32.1° N	Would win