A little knowledge. An empire of 18.

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

   IranvsPanama

   Area: 1,648,195 vs 75,420 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Panama.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iran against Panama

   Category	Iran	Panama	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,648,195	75,420	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	90,608,707	4,458,759	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	39,846	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	59.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	3,475	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	2,490	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	8.4° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   United Arab EmiratesvsOman

   Wealth per person: 78,020 vs 41,980 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Oman.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United Arab Emirates against Oman

   Category	United Arab Emirates	Oman	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,600	309,500	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,483,751	5,049,269	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	78,020	41,980	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.4	16.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,905	3,004	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,318	2,092	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	22.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   VietnamvsItaly

   Population: 100,352,192 vs 58,984,216 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Italy.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Vietnam against Italy

   Category	Vietnam	Italy	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	331,210	301,340	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	100,352,192	58,984,216	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,034	60,350	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	303.0	195.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,144	4,748	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,444	7,600	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.7° N	45.1° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   AustraliavsNetherlands

   Area: 7,741,220 vs 41,543 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Netherlands.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Australia against Netherlands

   Category	Australia	Netherlands	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,741,220	41,543	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,659,922	17,877,117	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,273	80,392	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.4	430.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,228	322	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	25,760	451	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.1° S	52.2° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   NigervsJamaica

   Area: 1,267,000 vs 10,991 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Jamaica.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Niger against Jamaica

   Category	Niger	Jamaica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,267,000	10,991	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,159,867	2,839,786	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,903	12,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.6	258.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,022	2,256	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,022	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.6° N	18.1° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   AndorravsSerbia

   Density: 172.8 vs 85.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Serbia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Andorra against Serbia

   Category	Andorra	Serbia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	468	77,474	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	80,856	6,623,183	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	71,790	29,777	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	172.8	85.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,946	2,169	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	5	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	44.2° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   NamibiavsGuyana

   Area: 824,292 vs 214,969 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guyana.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Namibia against Guyana

   Category	Namibia	Guyana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	824,292	214,969	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,963,095	826,353	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,248	54,774	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.6	3.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,573	2,775	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,572	459	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	5	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° S	2.7° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   MontenegrovsSpain

   Proximity to equator: 42.8° N vs 40.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Montenegro.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Montenegro against Spain

   Category	Montenegro	Spain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,812	505,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	623,529	48,352,528	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	31,863	55,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.1	95.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,534	3,718	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	293.5	4,964	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	42.8° N	40.0° N	Would lose