A little knowledge. An empire of 15.

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

   IcelandvsNorth Macedonia

   Wealth per person: 82,257 vs 25,354 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered North Macedonia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iceland against North Macedonia

   Category	Iceland	North Macedonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	103,000	25,713	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	385,663	1,827,816	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	82,257	25,354	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.7	71.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,110	2,764	Would lose
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	4,970	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	64.7° N	41.5° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   BelizevsGermany

   Proximity to equator: 17.0° N vs 51.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Germany.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Belize against Germany

   Category	Belize	Germany	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	22,966	357,022	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	411,106	83,287,273	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,741	72,262	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.9	233.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,124	2,963	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	2,389	Would lose
   Flag coloursBlocked in Hard · colours · Higher wins ↑	12	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	17.0° N	51.0° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   NamibiavsVenezuela

   Flag colours: 5 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Venezuela.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Namibia against Venezuela

   Category	Namibia	Venezuela	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	824,292	912,050	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,963,095	28,300,854	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	11,248	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.6	31.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,573	4,978	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,572	2,800	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° S	7.2° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   BahamasvsDenmark

   Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Denmark.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahamas against Denmark

   Category	Bahamas	Denmark	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	43,094	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	5,946,952	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	39,122	77,425	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	138.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	171	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,542	7,314	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	55.9° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Lost15 countries · 3 lives left

   South SudanvsMalawi

   Population: 11,483,374 vs 21,104,482 people · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: South Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Sudan against Malawi

   Category	South Sudan	Malawi	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	644,329	118,484	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	11,483,374	21,104,482	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	Unavailable	1,832	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.8	178.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,187	3,002	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.1° N	13.4° S	Would win