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

   United StatesvsIreland

   Population: 336,755,052 vs 5,311,538 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ireland.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United States against Ireland

   Category	United States	Ireland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,833,517	70,273	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	336,755,052	5,311,538	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	82,587	133,440	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	34.2	75.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,190	1,041	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	19,924	1,448	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.1° N	53.1° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   AlgeriavsLaos

   Area: 2,381,740 vs 236,800 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Laos.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Algeria against Laos

   Category	Algeria	Laos	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,381,740	236,800	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	46,164,219	7,664,993	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,838	9,299	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.4	32.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,908	2,817	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	998	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.4° N	19.6° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   CameroonvsHaiti

   Area: 475,440 vs 27,750 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Haiti.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cameroon against Haiti

   Category	Cameroon	Haiti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	475,440	27,750	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,372,687	11,637,398	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,415	3,265	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.7	419.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,045	2,674	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	1,771	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	7	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.5° N	19.2° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   GambiavsSudan

   Density: 238.7 vs 26.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Gambia against Sudan

   Category	Gambia	Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,300	1,861,484	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,697,845	50,042,791	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,292	2,423	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	238.7	26.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	63	3,042	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	80	853	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.6° N	16.6° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   Republic of the CongovsTajikistan

   Proximity to equator: 0.1° N vs 38.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Tajikistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Republic of the Congo against Tajikistan

   Category	Republic of the Congo	Tajikistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	342,000	144,100	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,182,885	10,389,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,856	4,968	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	18.1	72.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	7,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	169	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	0.1° N	38.3° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   HondurasvsYemen

   Flag colours: 2 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Honduras.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Honduras against Yemen

   Category	Honduras	Yemen	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,090	527,968	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,644,851	39,390,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	7,184	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.0	74.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,870	3,666	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	823	1,906	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° N	15.3° N	Would win