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

   MaltavsLuxembourg

   Proximity to equator: 35.9° N vs 49.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Luxembourg.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malta against Luxembourg

   Category	Malta	Luxembourg	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	316	2,586	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	552,747	666,430	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	67,101	152,596	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,749.2	257.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	253	559	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	196.8	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	35.9° N	49.7° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Timor-LestevsGhana

   Coastline: 706 vs 539 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ghana.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Timor-Leste against Ghana

   Category	Timor-Leste	Ghana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	14,874	238,533	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,384,286	33,787,914	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,811	7,563	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	93.1	141.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	885	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	706	539	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.9° S	7.0° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   Côte d’IvoirevsFrance

   Proximity to equator: 7.5° N vs 46.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered France.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Côte d’Ivoire against France

   Category	Côte d’Ivoire	France	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	322,463	551,500	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,165,654	65,925,961	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,243	60,927	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.6	119.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	4,810	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	515	3,427	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.5° N	46.7° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   AlgeriavsLibya

   Area: 2,381,740 vs 1,759,540 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Libya.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Algeria against Libya

   Category	Algeria	Libya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,381,740	1,759,540	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	46,164,219	7,305,659	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,838	13,858	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.4	4.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,908	2,267	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	998	1,770	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.4° N	26.1° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   EstoniavsKenya

   Wealth per person: 48,848 vs 6,322 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kenya.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Estonia against Kenya

   Category	Estonia	Kenya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	580,367	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	55,339,003	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,848	6,322	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	30.3	95.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	5,199	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,794	536	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	0.4° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   JordanvsDenmark

   Area: 89,342 vs 43,094 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Denmark.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Jordan against Denmark

   Category	Jordan	Denmark	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	89,342	43,094	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	5,946,952	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	77,425	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	128.0	138.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,854	171	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	26	7,314	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.7° N	55.9° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   GreecevsCuba

   Coastline: 13,676 vs 3,735 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cuba.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Greece against Cuba

   Category	Greece	Cuba	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	131,957	110,860	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,407,351	11,019,931	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	42,614	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	78.9	99.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,917	1,974	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,676	3,735	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.8° N	20.6° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   PhilippinesvsColombia

   Population: 114,891,199 vs 52,321,152 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Colombia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Philippines against Colombia

   Category	Philippines	Colombia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	300,000	1,138,910	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	114,891,199	52,321,152	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,995	21,282	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	383.0	45.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,954	5,730	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	36,289	3,208	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.0° N	3.4° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Lost19 countries · 3 lives left

   ArmeniavsSwitzerland

   Highest peak: 4,090 vs 4,634 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Armenia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Armenia against Switzerland

   Category	Armenia	Switzerland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	29,743	41,277	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,964,300	8,888,822	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,552	93,940	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.7	215.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,090	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 ↓	40.6° N	46.7° N	Would win