A little knowledge. An empire of 38.

Every comparison uses this expedition’s original data and rules. “Would win” describes this matchup only; a different choice would change the later journey.

21. 21
    Round 21Won29 countries · 2 lives left

    BelgiumvsRwanda

    Wealth per person: 72,630 vs 3,519 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Rwanda.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Belgium against Rwanda

    Category	Belgium	Rwanda	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,528	26,338	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,779,946	13,954,471	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	72,630	3,519	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	385.9	529.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	694	4,519	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	66.5	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	50.8° N	1.8° S	Would lose

22. 22
    Round 22Lost28 countries · 1 life left

    PolandvsYemen

    Area: 312,685 vs 527,968 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Poland.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Poland against Yemen

    Category	Poland	Yemen	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	312,685	527,968	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	36,687,353	39,390,799	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	48,473	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	74.6	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,499	3,666	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	440	1,906	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.9° N	15.3° N	Would lose

23. 23
    Round 23Won29 countries · 1 life left

    CyprusvsNicaragua

    Density: 145.4 vs 52.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Nicaragua.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Cyprus against Nicaragua

    Category	Cyprus	Nicaragua	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,251	130,370	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	6,823,613	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	59,875	8,327	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	145.4	52.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	2,085	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	648	910	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	10	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	12.6° N	Would lose

24. 24
    Round 24Won30 countries · 1 life left

    UgandavsSuriname

    Area: 241,038 vs 163,820 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Suriname.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Uganda against Suriname

    Category	Uganda	Suriname	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	241,038	163,820	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	48,656,601	628,886	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,100	21,128	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	201.9	3.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,110	1,230	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	386	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.0° N	4.1° N	Would win

25. 25
    Round 25Won31 countries · 1 life left

    TajikistanvsAlgeria

    Highest peak: 7,495 vs 2,908 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Algeria.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Tajikistan against Algeria

    Category	Tajikistan	Algeria	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	144,100	2,381,740	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,389,799	46,164,219	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,968	16,838	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	72.1	19.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,495	2,908	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	998	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	38.3° N	27.4° N	Would lose

26. 26
    Round 26Won32 countries · 1 life left

    Cabo VerdevsMalawi

    Coastline: 965 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Malawi.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Cabo Verde against Malawi

    Category	Cabo Verde	Malawi	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	4,033	118,484	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	522,331	21,104,482	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,251	1,832	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	129.5	178.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,829	3,002	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	965	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.0° N	13.4° S	Would lose

27. 27
    Round 27Won33 countries · 1 life left

    ChadvsEswatini

    Area: 1,284,000 vs 17,364 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Eswatini.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Chad against Eswatini

    Category	Chad	Eswatini	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,284,000	17,364	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,319,064	1,230,506	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,703	11,309	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.0	70.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,445	1,862	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.3° N	26.6° S	Would win

28. 28
    Round 28Won34 countries · 1 life left

    MalivsGabon

    Area: 1,240,192 vs 267,667 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Gabon.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Mali against Gabon

    Category	Mali	Gabon	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,240,192	267,667	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,769,127	2,484,789	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,178	20,773	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	9.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,155	1,050	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	885	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	18.6° N	0.6° S	Would lose

29. 29
    Round 29Won35 countries · 1 life left

    United KingdomvsPalestine

    Population: 68,526,000 vs 5,165,775 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Palestine.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for United Kingdom against Palestine

    Category	United Kingdom	Palestine	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	243,610	6,220	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	68,526,000	5,165,775	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,787	6,179	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	281.3	830.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,345	1,020	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	12,429	40	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	52.5° N	32.1° N	Would lose

30. 30
    Round 30Won36 countries · 1 life left

    FijivsArmenia

    Coastline: 1,129 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Armenia.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Fiji against Armenia

    Category	Fiji	Armenia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	18,274	29,743	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	924,145	2,964,300	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,656	21,552	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	50.6	99.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,324	4,090	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,129	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.8° S	40.6° N	Would win

31. 31
    Round 31Won37 countries · 1 life left

    AustraliavsIreland

    Area: 7,741,220 vs 70,273 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Ireland.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Australia against Ireland

    Category	Australia	Ireland	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,741,220	70,273	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,659,922	5,311,538	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,273	133,440	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.4	75.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,228	1,041	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	25,760	1,448	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.1° S	53.1° N	Would win

32. 32
    Round 32Won38 countries · 1 life left

    BhutanvsSaudi Arabia

    Highest peak: 7,570 vs 3,000 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Saudi Arabia.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Bhutan against Saudi Arabia

    Category	Bhutan	Saudi Arabia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	38,394	2,149,690	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	786,385	33,702,731	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,229	71,624	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.5	15.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,570	3,000	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,640	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.5° N	23.5° N	Would lose

33. 33
    Round 33Won39 countries · 1 life left

    PortugalvsUruguay

    Population: 10,578,174 vs 3,388,081 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Uruguay.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Portugal against Uruguay

    Category	Portugal	Uruguay	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	176,215	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	10,578,174	3,388,081	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	49,800	34,546	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	19.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	514	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	660	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	32.9° S	Would lose

34. 34
    Round 34Lost38 countries · 0 lives left

    SloveniavsPanama

    Population: 2,120,461 vs 4,458,759 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Slovenia.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Slovenia against Panama

    Category	Slovenia	Panama	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	20,273	75,420	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,120,461	4,458,759	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	56,151	39,846	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	104.6	59.1	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,864	3,475	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	46.6	2,490	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	8.4° N	Would lose