A little knowledge. An empire of 22.

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

   South KoreavsHungary

   Population: 51,712,619 vs 9,592,186 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Hungary.

   Other category comparisons 7 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Korea against Hungary

   Category	South Korea	Hungary	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	99,720	93,028	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	51,712,619	9,592,186	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	57,430	46,376	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	518.6	103.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,950	1,014	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,413	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	36.3° N	47.3° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   IranvsMalta

   Proximity to equator: 32.1° N vs 35.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Malta.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iran against Malta

   Category	Iran	Malta	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,648,195	316	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	90,608,707	552,747	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	67,101	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	1,749.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	253	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	196.8	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	32.1° N	35.9° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   CameroonvsLithuania

   Proximity to equator: 4.5° N vs 55.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Lithuania.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cameroon against Lithuania

   Category	Cameroon	Lithuania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	475,440	65,300	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,372,687	2,871,585	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,415	52,720	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.7	44.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,045	294	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	90	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	4.5° N	55.1° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   IraqvsSierra Leone

   Wealth per person: 14,665 vs 3,371 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Sierra Leone.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iraq against Sierra Leone

   Category	Iraq	Sierra Leone	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	438,317	71,740	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	45,074,049	8,460,512	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	14,665	3,371	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	102.8	117.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,611	1,948	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	58	402	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	33.3° N	8.7° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   ZimbabwevsCabo Verde

   Population: 16,340,822 vs 522,331 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cabo Verde.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Zimbabwe against Cabo Verde

   Category	Zimbabwe	Cabo Verde	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	390,757	4,033	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	16,340,822	522,331	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,796	10,251	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	41.8	129.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,592	2,829	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	965	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.0° S	15.0° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   NicaraguavsKyrgyzstan

   Proximity to equator: 12.6° N vs 41.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Kyrgyzstan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Nicaragua against Kyrgyzstan

   Category	Nicaragua	Kyrgyzstan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	130,370	199,951	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,823,613	7,099,750	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	8,327	7,304	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	52.3	35.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,085	7,439	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	910	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.6° N	41.7° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   BurundivsSolomon Islands

   Population: 13,689,450 vs 800,005 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Solomon Islands.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Burundi against Solomon Islands

   Category	Burundi	Solomon Islands	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	27,830	28,896	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,689,450	800,005	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,147	2,599	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	491.9	27.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,685	2,335	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	5,313	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.4° S	9.6° S	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   North KoreavsVanuatu

   Population: 26,418,204 vs 320,409 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vanuatu.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for North Korea against Vanuatu

   Category	North Korea	Vanuatu	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	120,538	12,189	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	26,418,204	320,409	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	Unavailable	4,202	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	219.2	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,744	1,877	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,495	2,528	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	15.4° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   DR CongovsPoland

   Population: 105,789,731 vs 36,687,353 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Poland.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for DR Congo against Poland

   Category	DR Congo	Poland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,344,858	312,685	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	105,789,731	36,687,353	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,732	48,473	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.1	117.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,110	2,499	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37	440	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.9° S	51.9° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    FijivsCanada

    Proximity to equator: 17.8° S vs 58.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Canada.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Fiji against Canada

    Category	Fiji	Canada	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	18,274	9,984,670	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	924,145	40,049,088	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,656	64,962	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	50.6	4.0	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,324	5,959	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,129	202,080	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	17.8° S	58.8° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Lost21 countries · 3 lives left

    TogovsPapua New Guinea

    Population: 8,223,850 vs 10,389,635 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Togo.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Togo against Papua New Guinea

    Category	Togo	Papua New Guinea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,785	462,840	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8,223,850	10,389,635	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,572	4,672	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	144.8	22.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	986	4,509	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	56	5,152	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.9° N	5.5° S	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Won22 countries · 3 lives left

    ParaguayvsMontenegro

    Proximity to equator: 21.6° S vs 42.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Montenegro.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Paraguay against Montenegro

    Category	Paraguay	Montenegro	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	406,752	13,812	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,844,146	623,529	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,585	31,863	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.8	45.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	842	2,534	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	293.5	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	5	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	21.6° S	42.8° N	Would win

13. 13
    Round 13Won23 countries · 3 lives left

    South KoreavsTogo

    Highest peak: 1,950 vs 986 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Togo.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for South Korea against Togo

    Category	South Korea	Togo	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	99,720	56,785	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	51,712,619	8,223,850	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	57,430	3,572	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	518.6	144.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,950	986	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,413	56	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	36.3° N	8.9° N	Would lose

14. 14
    Round 14Lost22 countries · 2 lives left

    HungaryvsLuxembourg

    Density: 103.1 vs 257.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Hungary.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Hungary against Luxembourg

    Category	Hungary	Luxembourg	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	93,028	2,586	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,592,186	666,430	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	46,376	152,596	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	103.1	257.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,014	559	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.3° N	49.7° N	Would win