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

   SwedenvsLebanon

   Wealth per person: 68,458 vs 12,585 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lebanon.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sweden against Lebanon

   Category	Sweden	Lebanon	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	450,295	10,400	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,536,632	5,773,493	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	68,458	12,585	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	23.4	555.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,100	3,088	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,218	225	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	65.8° N	34.2° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Trinidad and TobagovsAlbania

   Proximity to equator: 10.3° N vs 40.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Albania.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Trinidad and Tobago against Albania

   Category	Trinidad and Tobago	Albania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,128	28,748	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,367,510	2,411,658	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	34,652	24,848	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	266.7	83.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	940	2,764	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	362	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.3° N	40.7° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Lost13 countries · 3 lives left

   UgandavsMyanmar

   Area: 241,038 vs 676,578 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Uganda.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uganda against Myanmar

   Category	Uganda	Myanmar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	241,038	676,578	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	48,656,601	54,133,798	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,100	5,958	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	201.9	80.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,110	5,870	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,930	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.0° N	21.6° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won14 countries · 3 lives left

   CanadavsJapan

   Coastline: 202,080 vs 29,751 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Japan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Canada against Japan

   Category	Canada	Japan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,984,670	377,915	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	40,049,088	124,516,650	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	64,962	52,726	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.0	329.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,959	3,776	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	202,080	29,751	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.8° N	36.7° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won15 countries · 3 lives left

   PalestinevsTajikistan

   Proximity to equator: 32.1° N vs 38.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Tajikistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Palestine against Tajikistan

   Category	Palestine	Tajikistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	6,220	144,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,165,775	10,389,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,179	4,968	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	830.5	72.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	7,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	40	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	32.1° N	38.3° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Lost14 countries · 2 lives left

   GhanavsUnited Arab Emirates

   Highest peak: 885 vs 1,905 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Ghana.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ghana against United Arab Emirates

   Category	Ghana	United Arab Emirates	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	238,533	83,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	33,787,914	10,483,751	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,563	78,020	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	141.6	125.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	885	1,905	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	539	1,318	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	23.5° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost13 countries · 1 life left

   MoldovavsCyprus

   Highest peak: 430 vs 1,951 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Moldova.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Moldova against Cyprus

   Category	Moldova	Cyprus	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	33,851	9,251	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,457,783	1,344,976	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,751	59,875	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	72.6	145.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	430	1,951	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	648	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.5° N	34.9° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won14 countries · 1 life left

   AzerbaijanvsGuinea

   Highest peak: 4,466 vs 1,752 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Azerbaijan against Guinea

   Category	Azerbaijan	Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	86,600	245,857	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,153,958	14,405,468	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,671	4,337	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	58.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,466	1,752	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	320	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.5° N	10.7° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won15 countries · 1 life left

   FrancevsLesotho

   Area: 551,500 vs 30,355 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lesotho.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for France against Lesotho

   Category	France	Lesotho	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	551,500	30,355	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	65,925,961	2,311,472	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,927	2,880	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	119.5	76.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,810	3,482	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,427	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	29.4° S	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won16 countries · 1 life left

    GambiavsRussia

    Density: 238.7 vs 8.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Russia.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Gambia against Russia

    Category	Gambia	Russia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,300	17,098,242	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,697,845	143,826,130	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,292	44,299	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	238.7	8.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	63	5,642	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	80	37,653	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.6° N	63.6° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Tied16 countries · 1 life left

    BelarusvsGermany

    Flag colours: 3 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Germany became contested.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Belarus against Germany

    Category	Belarus	Germany	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	207,600	357,022	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,178,298	83,287,273	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	30,860	72,262	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	44.2	233.3	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	346	2,963	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,389	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	53.8° N	51.0° N	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Won18 countries · 1 life left

    QatarvsUzbekistan

    Wealth per person: 129,025 vs 11,679 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Uzbekistan, Germany.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Qatar against Uzbekistan

    Category	Qatar	Uzbekistan	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,586	447,400	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,656,032	35,652,307	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129,025	11,679	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	229.2	79.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	103	4,643	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	563	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	25.1° N	41.5° N	Would win

13. 13
    Round 13Won19 countries · 1 life left

    SwedenvsChina

    Wealth per person: 68,458 vs 25,200 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered China.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Sweden against China

    Category	Sweden	China	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	450,295	9,596,960	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,536,632	1,410,710,000	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	68,458	25,200	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	23.4	147.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,100	8,849	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,218	14,500	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	65.8° N	32.5° N	Would lose

14. 14
    Round 14Won20 countries · 1 life left

    LebanonvsAngola

    Density: 555.1 vs 29.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Angola.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Lebanon against Angola

    Category	Lebanon	Angola	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	10,400	1,246,700	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,773,493	36,749,906	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,585	9,550	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	555.1	29.5	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,088	2,620	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	225	1,600	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.2° N	13.2° S	Would lose

15. 15
    Round 15Won21 countries · 1 life left

    Trinidad and TobagovsMadagascar

    Wealth per person: 34,652 vs 1,810 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Madagascar.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Trinidad and Tobago against Madagascar

    Category	Trinidad and Tobago	Madagascar	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,128	587,041	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,367,510	31,195,932	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	34,652	1,810	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	266.7	53.1	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	940	2,876	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	4,828	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.3° N	18.4° S	Would win

16. 16
    Round 16Lost20 countries · 0 lives left

    AlbaniavsEritrea

    Highest peak: 2,764 vs 3,018 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Albania.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Albania against Eritrea

    Category	Albania	Eritrea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,748	117,600	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,411,658	3,470,390	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	24,848	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	83.9	29.5	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,764	3,018	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	2,234	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	16.0° N	Would lose