A little knowledge. An empire of 16.

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

   IranvsGuatemala

   Population: 90,608,707 vs 18,124,838 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guatemala.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iran against Guatemala

   Category	Iran	Guatemala	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,648,195	108,889	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	90,608,707	18,124,838	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	13,752	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	166.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	4,220	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	400	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	15.0° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   BelizevsJapan

   Proximity to equator: 17.0° N vs 36.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Japan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Belize against Japan

   Category	Belize	Japan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	22,966	377,915	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	411,106	124,516,650	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,741	52,726	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.9	329.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,124	3,776	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	29,751	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	12	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	17.0° N	36.7° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   AngolavsNigeria

   Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nigeria.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Angola against Nigeria

   Category	Angola	Nigeria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,246,700	923,768	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	36,749,906	227,882,945	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,550	8,712	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.5	246.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,620	2,419	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,600	853	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.2° S	9.4° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   MalawivsCambodia

   Density: 178.1 vs 96.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cambodia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malawi against Cambodia

   Category	Malawi	Cambodia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	181,035	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	17,423,880	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	7,437	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	178.1	96.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	1,810	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	443	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	12.6° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   HungaryvsKuwait

   Population: 9,592,186 vs 4,853,420 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Hungary against Kuwait

   Category	Hungary	Kuwait	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	93,028	17,818	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,592,186	4,853,420	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	46,376	53,083	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	103.1	272.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,014	300	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	499	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.3° N	29.4° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   MaldivesvsYemen

   Proximity to equator: 3.3° N vs 15.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Yemen.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Maldives against Yemen

   Category	Maldives	Yemen	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	527,968	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	39,390,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	24,807	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,765.1	74.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	3,666	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	644	1,906	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	3.3° N	15.3° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   MoldovavsCosta Rica

   Coastline: 0 vs 1,290 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Moldova.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Moldova against Costa Rica

   Category	Moldova	Costa Rica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	33,851	51,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,457,783	5,105,525	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,751	29,248	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	72.6	99.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	430	3,819	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	0	1,290	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.5° N	10.1° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost16 countries · 2 lives left

   BeninvsGuinea

   Coastline: 121 vs 320 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Benin.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Benin against Guinea

   Category	Benin	Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,622	245,857	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,111,034	14,405,468	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,133	4,337	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.3	58.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	675	1,752	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	121	320	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.4° N	10.7° N	Would win