A little knowledge. An empire of 15.

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

   United StatesvsNetherlands

   Population: 336,755,052 vs 17,877,117 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Netherlands.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United States against Netherlands

   Category	United States	Netherlands	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	9,833,517	41,543	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	336,755,052	17,877,117	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	82,587	80,392	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	34.2	430.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,190	322	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	19,924	451	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.1° N	52.2° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   ArgentinavsEcuador

   Highest peak: 6,962 vs 6,267 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ecuador.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Argentina against Ecuador

   Category	Argentina	Ecuador	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	2,780,400	283,561	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	45,538,401	17,980,083	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	30,246	15,907	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.4	63.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6,962	6,267	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,989	2,237	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	11	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	31.4° S	1.2° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   BurundivsMauritius

   Proximity to equator: 3.4° S vs 20.3° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Mauritius.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Burundi against Mauritius

   Category	Burundi	Mauritius	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	27,830	2,040	Would win
   PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	13,689,450	1,248,647	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,147	29,403	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	491.9	612.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,685	828	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	177	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	3.4° S	20.3° S	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   VietnamvsUkraine

   Coastline: 3,444 vs 2,782 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ukraine.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Vietnam against Ukraine

   Category	Vietnam	Ukraine	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	331,210	603,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	100,352,192	37,732,836	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,034	17,680	Would lose
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	303.0	62.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,144	2,061	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,444	2,782	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.7° N	49.6° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   ComorosvsCzechia

   Coastline: 340 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Czechia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Comoros against Czechia

   Category	Comoros	Czechia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,235	78,867	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	850,387	10,864,042	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,897	56,062	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	380.5	137.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,360	1,602	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	340	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	11.7° S	49.8° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   BotswanavsUnited Arab Emirates

   Population: 2,480,244 vs 10,483,751 people · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Botswana.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Botswana against United Arab Emirates

   Category	Botswana	United Arab Emirates	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	581,730	83,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,480,244	10,483,751	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,029	78,020	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.3	125.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,495	1,905	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,318	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° S	23.5° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost15 countries · 2 lives left

   BhutanvsGuatemala

   Flag colours: 4 vs 9 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Bhutan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Bhutan against Guatemala

   Category	Bhutan	Guatemala	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	38,394	108,889	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	786,385	18,124,838	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,229	13,752	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.5	166.5	Would lose
   Highest peakBlocked in Hard · m · Higher wins ↑	7,570	4,220	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	400	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.5° N	15.0° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won16 countries · 2 lives left

   RwandavsDjibouti

   Population: 13,954,471 vs 1,152,944 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Djibouti.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Rwanda against Djibouti

   Category	Rwanda	Djibouti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	26,338	23,200	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,954,471	1,152,944	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,519	7,232	Would lose
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	529.8	49.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,519	2,021	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	314	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.8° S	11.4° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won17 countries · 2 lives left

   LaosvsSlovenia

   Population: 7,664,993 vs 2,120,461 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Slovenia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Laos against Slovenia

   Category	Laos	Slovenia	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	236,800	20,273	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,664,993	2,120,461	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,299	56,151	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	32.4	104.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,817	2,864	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	46.6	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.6° N	46.0° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost16 countries · 1 life left

    LuxembourgvsCambodia

    Population: 666,430 vs 17,423,880 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Luxembourg.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Luxembourg against Cambodia

    Category	Luxembourg	Cambodia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,586	181,035	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	666,430	17,423,880	Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	152,596	7,437	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	257.7	96.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	559	1,810	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	443	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.7° N	12.6° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Lost15 countries · 0 lives left

    YemenvsEquatorial Guinea

    Proximity to equator: 15.3° N vs 1.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Returned to the world: Yemen.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Yemen against Equatorial Guinea

    Category	Yemen	Equatorial Guinea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	527,968	28,051	Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	39,390,799	1,847,549	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	Unavailable	16,997	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	65.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,666	3,008	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,906	296	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	8	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.3° N	1.6° N	Would lose