A little knowledge. An empire of 18.

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 1Lost11 countries · 3 lives left

   BhutanvsUnited Arab Emirates

   Density: 20.5 vs 125.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Bhutan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Bhutan against United Arab Emirates

   Category	Bhutan	United Arab Emirates	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	38,394	83,600	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	786,385	10,483,751	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,229	78,020	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	20.5	125.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,570	1,905	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,318	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.5° N	23.5° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won12 countries · 3 lives left

   CyprusvsLaos

   Wealth per person: 59,875 vs 9,299 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Laos.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cyprus against Laos

   Category	Cyprus	Laos	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,251	236,800	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	7,664,993	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	59,875	9,299	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	145.4	32.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	2,817	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	648	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	19.6° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won13 countries · 3 lives left

   North MacedoniavsMorocco

   Wealth per person: 25,354 vs 9,903 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Morocco.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for North Macedonia against Morocco

   Category	North Macedonia	Morocco	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	25,713	446,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,827,816	37,712,505	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	25,354	9,903	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	71.1	84.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,764	4,165	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,835	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.5° N	31.9° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won14 countries · 3 lives left

   MaltavsBelgium

   Proximity to equator: 35.9° N vs 50.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Belgium.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malta against Belgium

   Category	Malta	Belgium	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	316	30,528	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	552,747	11,779,946	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	67,101	72,630	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,749.2	385.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	253	694	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	196.8	66.5	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	35.9° N	50.8° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won15 countries · 3 lives left

   GuineavsRepublic of the Congo

   Coastline: 320 vs 169 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Republic of the Congo.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea against Republic of the Congo

   Category	Guinea	Republic of the Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	342,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	6,182,885	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	6,856	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	18.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	1,020	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	320	169	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.7° N	0.1° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won16 countries · 3 lives left

   SerbiavsJamaica

   Wealth per person: 29,777 vs 12,661 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Jamaica.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Serbia against Jamaica

   Category	Serbia	Jamaica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	77,474	10,991	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,623,183	2,839,786	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	29,777	12,661	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	85.5	258.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,169	2,256	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,022	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	44.2° N	18.1° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won17 countries · 3 lives left

   GabonvsBangladesh

   Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bangladesh.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Gabon against Bangladesh

   Category	Gabon	Bangladesh	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	267,667	148,460	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,484,789	171,466,990	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	20,773	9,155	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	9.3	1,155.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,050	1,060	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	885	580	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.6° S	24.3° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won18 countries · 3 lives left

   MongoliavsSwitzerland

   Area: 1,564,116 vs 41,277 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Switzerland.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mongolia against Switzerland

   Category	Mongolia	Switzerland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,564,116	41,277	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,481,145	8,888,822	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,020	93,940	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	2.2	215.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,374	4,634	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	46.7° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won19 countries · 3 lives left

   RussiavsSomalia

   Area: 17,098,242 vs 637,657 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Somalia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Russia against Somalia

   Category	Russia	Somalia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	17,098,242	637,657	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	143,826,130	18,358,615	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	44,299	1,557	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.4	28.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,642	2,460	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37,653	3,025	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.6° N	2.6° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won20 countries · 3 lives left

    GreecevsMoldova

    Coastline: 13,676 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Moldova.

    Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Greece against Moldova

    Category	Greece	Moldova	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	131,957	33,851	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,407,351	2,457,783	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	42,614	17,751	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	78.9	72.6	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,917	430	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,676	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	9	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.8° N	47.5° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won21 countries · 3 lives left

    GambiavsComoros

    Area: 11,300 vs 2,235 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Comoros.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Gambia against Comoros

    Category	Gambia	Comoros	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	11,300	2,235	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,697,845	850,387	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,292	3,897	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	238.7	380.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	63	2,360	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	80	340	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.6° N	11.7° S	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Lost20 countries · 2 lives left

    Costa RicavsFinland

    Population: 5,105,525 vs 5,583,911 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Costa Rica.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Costa Rica against Finland

    Category	Costa Rica	Finland	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,100	338,145	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,105,525	5,583,911	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	29,248	63,467	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.9	16.5	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,819	1,328	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,290	1,250	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.1° N	63.3° N	Would win

13. 13
    Round 13Lost19 countries · 1 life left

    CyprusvsSaudi Arabia

    Area: 9,251 vs 2,149,690 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Cyprus.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Cyprus against Saudi Arabia

    Category	Cyprus	Saudi Arabia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,251	2,149,690	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	33,702,731	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	59,875	71,624	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	145.4	15.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	3,000	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	648	2,640	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	23.5° N	Would lose

14. 14
    Round 14Lost18 countries · 0 lives left

    LaosvsEcuador

    Population: 7,664,993 vs 17,980,083 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Laos.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Laos against Ecuador

    Category	Laos	Ecuador	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	236,800	283,561	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,664,993	17,980,083	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,299	15,907	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	32.4	63.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,817	6,267	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,237	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	11	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.6° N	1.2° S	Would lose