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

   Cabo VerdevsLesotho

   Density: 129.5 vs 76.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lesotho.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cabo Verde against Lesotho

   Category	Cabo Verde	Lesotho	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	4,033	30,355	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	522,331	2,311,472	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,251	2,880	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129.5	76.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,829	3,482	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	965	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.0° N	29.4° S	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   RwandavsThailand

   Proximity to equator: 1.8° S vs 15.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Thailand.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Rwanda against Thailand

   Category	Rwanda	Thailand	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	26,338	513,120	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,954,471	71,702,435	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,519	23,598	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	529.8	139.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,519	2,565	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,219	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.8° S	15.5° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   Equatorial GuineavsDenmark

   Proximity to equator: 1.6° N vs 55.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Denmark.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against Denmark

   Category	Equatorial Guinea	Denmark	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,051	43,094	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	5,946,952	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,997	77,425	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	138.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	171	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	7,314	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.6° N	55.9° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   CroatiavsUnited States

   Flag colours: 6 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered United States.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Croatia against United States

   Category	Croatia	United States	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,594	9,833,517	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,859,686	336,755,052	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	47,760	82,587	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	68.2	34.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,831	6,190	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	5,835	19,924	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.8° N	39.1° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   BelarusvsQatar

   Area: 207,600 vs 11,586 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Qatar.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Belarus against Qatar

   Category	Belarus	Qatar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	207,600	11,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,178,298	2,656,032	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	30,860	129,025	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	44.2	229.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	346	103	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	563	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	53.8° N	25.1° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   IndonesiavsTürkiye

   Population: 281,190,067 vs 85,325,965 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Türkiye.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Indonesia against Türkiye

   Category	Indonesia	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,904,569	783,562	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	281,190,067	85,325,965	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,428	43,196	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	147.6	108.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,884	5,137	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	54,716	7,200	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.0° S	39.1° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   VenezuelavsMontenegro

   Population: 28,300,854 vs 623,529 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Montenegro.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Venezuela against Montenegro

   Category	Venezuela	Montenegro	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	912,050	13,812	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	28,300,854	623,529	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	Unavailable	31,863	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	31.0	45.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,978	2,534	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,800	293.5	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.2° N	42.8° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   GuyanavsDjibouti

   Population: 826,353 vs 1,152,944 people · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Guyana.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guyana against Djibouti

   Category	Guyana	Djibouti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	214,969	23,200	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	826,353	1,152,944	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	54,774	7,232	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	49.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,775	2,021	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	459	314	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.7° N	11.4° N	Would win