A little knowledge. An empire of 20.

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

   AfghanistanvsUzbekistan

   Population: 41,454,761 vs 35,652,307 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Uzbekistan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Afghanistan against Uzbekistan

   Category	Afghanistan	Uzbekistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	652,230	447,400	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	41,454,761	35,652,307	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,204	11,679	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	63.6	79.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,492	4,643	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.3° N	41.5° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Timor-LestevsFiji

   Population: 1,384,286 vs 924,145 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Fiji.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Timor-Leste against Fiji

   Category	Timor-Leste	Fiji	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	14,874	18,274	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,384,286	924,145	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,811	14,656	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	93.1	50.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	1,324	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	706	1,129	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	8	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.9° S	17.8° S	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   CyprusvsMorocco

   Wealth per person: 59,875 vs 9,903 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Morocco.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cyprus against Morocco

   Category	Cyprus	Morocco	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,251	446,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	37,712,505	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	59,875	9,903	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	145.4	84.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	4,165	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	648	1,835	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	31.9° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   ThailandvsSwitzerland

   Population: 71,702,435 vs 8,888,822 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Switzerland.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Thailand against Switzerland

   Category	Thailand	Switzerland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	513,120	41,277	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	71,702,435	8,888,822	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,598	93,940	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	139.7	215.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,565	4,634	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,219	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.5° N	46.7° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   MaldivesvsVenezuela

   Density: 1,765.1 vs 31.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Venezuela.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Maldives against Venezuela

   Category	Maldives	Venezuela	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	912,050	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	28,300,854	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	24,807	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,765.1	31.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	4,978	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	644	2,800	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.3° N	7.2° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   DenmarkvsBelgium

   Coastline: 7,314 vs 66.5 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Belgium.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Denmark against Belgium

   Category	Denmark	Belgium	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	43,094	30,528	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,946,952	11,779,946	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	77,425	72,630	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	138.0	385.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	171	694	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,314	66.5	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	55.9° N	50.8° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   AustraliavsEl Salvador

   Area: 7,741,220 vs 21,041 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered El Salvador.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Australia against El Salvador

   Category	Australia	El Salvador	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,741,220	21,041	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,659,922	6,309,624	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,273	12,667	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.4	299.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,228	2,730	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	25,760	307	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.1° S	13.9° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   BelarusvsPeru

   Wealth per person: 30,860 vs 17,042 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Peru.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Belarus against Peru

   Category	Belarus	Peru	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	207,600	1,285,216	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,178,298	33,845,617	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	30,860	17,042	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	44.2	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	346	6,746	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,414	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	53.8° N	13.0° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   SpainvsBulgaria

   Population: 48,352,528 vs 6,446,596 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bulgaria.

   Other category comparisons 7 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Spain against Bulgaria

   Category	Spain	Bulgaria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	505,370	110,879	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,352,528	6,446,596	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	55,661	38,829	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.7	58.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,718	2,925	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,964	354	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.0° N	42.5° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    IraqvsCameroon

    Coastline: 58 vs 402 km · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Iraq.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Iraq against Cameroon

    Category	Iraq	Cameroon	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	438,317	475,440	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	45,074,049	28,372,687	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,665	5,415	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	102.8	59.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,611	4,045	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	58	402	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	33.3° N	4.5° N	Would lose