A little knowledge. An empire of 17.

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

   CanadavsPoland

   Area: 9,984,670 vs 312,685 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Poland.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Canada against Poland

   Category	Canada	Poland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,984,670	312,685	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	40,049,088	36,687,353	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	64,962	48,473	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.0	117.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,959	2,499	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	202,080	440	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.8° N	51.9° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   SpainvsUnited States

   Density: 95.7 vs 34.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered United States.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Spain against United States

   Category	Spain	United States	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	505,370	9,833,517	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	48,352,528	336,755,052	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	55,661	82,587	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	95.7	34.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,718	6,190	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,964	19,924	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.0° N	39.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   BhutanvsNorth Korea

   Highest peak: 7,570 vs 2,744 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered North Korea.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bhutan against North Korea

   Category	Bhutan	North Korea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	38,394	120,538	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	786,385	26,418,204	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	16,229	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.5	219.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,570	2,744	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,495	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.5° N	39.9° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   GuineavsAfghanistan

   Proximity to equator: 10.7° N vs 34.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Afghanistan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea against Afghanistan

   Category	Guinea	Afghanistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	652,230	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	41,454,761	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	2,204	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	63.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	7,492	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	320	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.7° N	34.3° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   KenyavsSri Lanka

   Highest peak: 5,199 vs 2,524 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Sri Lanka.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kenya against Sri Lanka

   Category	Kenya	Sri Lanka	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	580,367	65,610	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	55,339,003	22,037,000	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,322	14,512	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.4	335.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,199	2,524	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	536	1,340	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.4° N	7.1° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   FijivsLebanon

   Coastline: 1,129 vs 225 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lebanon.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Fiji against Lebanon

   Category	Fiji	Lebanon	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	18,274	10,400	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	924,145	5,773,493	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,656	12,585	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	50.6	555.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,324	3,088	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,129	225	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.8° S	34.2° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   BelgiumvsKazakhstan

   Proximity to equator: 50.8° N vs 48.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Belgium.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Belgium against Kazakhstan

   Category	Belgium	Kazakhstan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,528	2,724,900	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,779,946	20,330,104	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,630	38,547	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	385.9	7.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	694	7,010	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	66.5	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	50.8° N	48.5° N	Would lose