A little knowledge. An empire of 20.

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

   YemenvsIraq

   Proximity to equator: 15.3° N vs 33.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Iraq.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Yemen against Iraq

   Category	Yemen	Iraq	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	527,968	438,317	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	39,390,799	45,074,049	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	Unavailable	14,665	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	102.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,666	3,611	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,906	58	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.3° N	33.3° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   MauritiusvsPortugal

   Proximity to equator: 20.3° S vs 40.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Portugal.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Mauritius against Portugal

   Category	Mauritius	Portugal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,040	92,090	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,248,647	10,578,174	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	29,403	49,800	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	612.1	114.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	828	2,351	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	177	1,793	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	20.3° S	40.7° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   LesothovsBurundi

   Wealth per person: 2,880 vs 1,147 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Burundi.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Lesotho against Burundi

   Category	Lesotho	Burundi	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,355	27,830	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,311,472	13,689,450	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,880	1,147	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	76.1	491.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,482	2,685	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° S	3.4° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   BelizevsQatar

   Area: 22,966 vs 11,586 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Qatar.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Belize against Qatar

   Category	Belize	Qatar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	22,966	11,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	411,106	2,656,032	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,741	129,025	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.9	229.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,124	103	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	563	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	12	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.0° N	25.1° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   JordanvsLaos

   Coastline: 26 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Laos.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Jordan against Laos

   Category	Jordan	Laos	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	89,342	236,800	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	7,664,993	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	9,299	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	128.0	32.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,854	2,817	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	26	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.7° N	19.6° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   SomaliavsAustralia

   Proximity to equator: 2.6° N vs 23.1° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Australia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Somalia against Australia

   Category	Somalia	Australia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	637,657	7,741,220	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,358,615	26,659,922	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,557	72,273	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	3.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,460	2,228	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,025	25,760	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	2.6° N	23.1° S	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   CubavsTurkmenistan

   Coastline: 3,735 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Turkmenistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cuba against Turkmenistan

   Category	Cuba	Turkmenistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	110,860	488,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,019,931	7,364,438	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	Unavailable	19,645	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.4	15.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,974	3,139	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,735	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° N	39.9° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   MexicovsGuatemala

   Coastline: 9,330 vs 400 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guatemala.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mexico against Guatemala

   Category	Mexico	Guatemala	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,964,375	108,889	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	129,739,759	18,124,838	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,188	13,752	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	66.0	166.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,636	4,220	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,330	400	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	9	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	15.0° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   Guinea-BissauvsCzechia

   Proximity to equator: 12.1° N vs 49.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Czechia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea-Bissau against Czechia

   Category	Guinea-Bissau	Czechia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	36,125	78,867	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,153,339	10,864,042	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,956	56,062	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.6	137.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	277	1,602	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	350	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.1° N	49.8° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    Trinidad and TobagovsVenezuela

    Flag colours: 3 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Trinidad and Tobago.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Trinidad and Tobago against Venezuela

    Category	Trinidad and Tobago	Venezuela	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,128	912,050	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,367,510	28,300,854	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	34,652	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	266.7	31.0	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	940	4,978	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	2,800	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.3° N	7.2° N	Would lose