A little knowledge. An empire of 19.

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

   HondurasvsChile

   Proximity to equator: 14.7° N vs 23.4° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Chile.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Honduras against Chile

   Category	Honduras	Chile	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,090	756,102	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,644,851	19,658,835	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,184	33,174	Would lose
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	95.0	26.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,870	6,893	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	823	6,435	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	14.7° N	23.4° S	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   GuatemalavsSlovakia

   Proximity to equator: 15.0° N vs 48.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Slovakia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guatemala against Slovakia

   Category	Guatemala	Slovakia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	108,889	49,035	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,124,838	5,426,740	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,752	45,865	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	166.5	110.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,220	2,655	Would win
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	400	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.0° N	48.7° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   South AfricavsKuwait

   Population: 63,212,384 vs 4,853,420 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Africa against Kuwait

   Category	South Africa	Kuwait	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	1,219,090	17,818	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	63,212,384	4,853,420	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,212	53,083	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	51.9	272.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,450	300	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,798	499	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.2° S	29.4° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   HungaryvsPapua New Guinea

   Density: 103.1 vs 22.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Papua New Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Hungary against Papua New Guinea

   Category	Hungary	Papua New Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	93,028	462,840	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,592,186	10,389,635	Would lose
   Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	46,376	4,672	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	103.1	22.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,014	4,509	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	5,152	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.3° N	5.5° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Tied16 countries · 4 lives left

   LiberiavsRussia

   Flag colours: 3 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Russia became contested.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Liberia against Russia

   Category	Liberia	Russia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	111,369	17,098,242	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,493,031	143,826,130	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,796	44,299	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	49.3	8.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,447	5,642	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	579	37,653	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	63.6° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   CubavsDenmark

   Proximity to equator: 20.6° N vs 55.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Denmark, Russia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cuba against Denmark

   Category	Cuba	Denmark	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	110,860	43,094	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,019,931	5,946,952	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	Unavailable	77,425	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.4	138.0	Would lose
   Highest peakBlocked in Hard · m · Higher wins ↑	1,974	171	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,735	7,314	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	20.6° N	55.9° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   VenezuelavsNorth Korea

   Proximity to equator: 7.2° N vs 39.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered North Korea.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Venezuela against North Korea

   Category	Venezuela	North Korea	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	912,050	120,538	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,300,854	26,418,204	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.. North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	31.0	219.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,978	2,744	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,800	2,495	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.2° N	39.9° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   EstoniavsTogo

   Wealth per person: 48,848 vs 3,572 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Togo.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Estonia against Togo

   Category	Estonia	Togo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	56,785	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	8,223,850	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,848	3,572	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	30.3	144.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	986	Would lose
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	3,794	56	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	8.9° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Lost19 countries · 3 lives left

   MalawivsEthiopia

   Proximity to equator: 13.4° S vs 8.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Malawi.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Malawi against Ethiopia

   Category	Malawi	Ethiopia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	1,104,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	128,691,692	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	3,063	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	178.1	116.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	4,550	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	13.4° S	8.5° N	Would lose