A little knowledge. An empire of 16.

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

   FinlandvsEstonia

   Area: 338,145 vs 45,228 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Finland against Estonia

   Category	Finland	Estonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	338,145	45,228	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,583,911	1,370,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	63,467	48,848	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.5	30.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,328	318	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,250	3,794	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.3° N	58.6° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   BhutanvsZambia

   Highest peak: 7,570 vs 2,330 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Zambia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Bhutan against Zambia

   Category	Bhutan	Zambia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	38,394	752,618	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	786,385	20,723,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,229	4,080	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.5	27.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,570	2,330	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.5° N	14.7° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   QatarvsKuwait

   Wealth per person: 129,025 vs 53,083 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Qatar against Kuwait

   Category	Qatar	Kuwait	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,586	17,818	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,656,032	4,853,420	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129,025	53,083	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	229.2	272.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	103	300	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	563	499	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	25.1° N	29.4° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   South KoreavsNorway

   Population: 51,712,619 vs 5,519,601 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Norway.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Korea against Norway

   Category	South Korea	Norway	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	99,720	323,802	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	51,712,619	5,519,601	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	57,430	107,768	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	518.6	17.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,950	2,469	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,413	25,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	36.3° N	61.5° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   El SalvadorvsBrazil

   Density: 299.9 vs 24.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Brazil.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for El Salvador against Brazil

   Category	El Salvador	Brazil	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	8,515,770	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	211,140,729	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	21,193	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	299.9	24.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	2,994	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	7,491	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	12.6° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   UzbekistanvsColombia

   Highest peak: 4,643 vs 5,730 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Uzbekistan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uzbekistan against Colombia

   Category	Uzbekistan	Colombia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	447,400	1,138,910	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	35,652,307	52,321,152	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,679	21,282	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	79.7	45.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,643	5,730	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,208	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.5° N	3.4° N	Would lose