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

   MexicovsParaguay

   Population: 129,739,759 vs 6,844,146 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Paraguay.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mexico against Paraguay

   Category	Mexico	Paraguay	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,964,375	406,752	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129,739,759	6,844,146	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,188	17,585	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	66.0	16.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,636	842	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	9,330	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	6	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	21.6° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   CyprusvsFinland

   Density: 145.4 vs 16.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Finland.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cyprus against Finland

   Category	Cyprus	Finland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,251	338,145	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	5,583,911	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	59,875	63,467	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	145.4	16.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	1,328	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	648	1,250	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	63.3° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   KenyavsTürkiye

   Highest peak: 5,199 vs 5,137 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Türkiye.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kenya against Türkiye

   Category	Kenya	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	580,367	783,562	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	55,339,003	85,325,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,322	43,196	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.4	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,199	5,137	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	536	7,200	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.4° N	39.1° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   TanzaniavsTimor-Leste

   Population: 66,617,606 vs 1,384,286 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Timor-Leste.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Tanzania against Timor-Leste

   Category	Tanzania	Timor-Leste	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	947,300	14,874	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	66,617,606	1,384,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,022	4,811	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	70.3	93.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,895	2,963	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,424	706	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	5.5° S	8.9° S	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   ZambiavsLaos

   Population: 20,723,965 vs 7,664,993 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Laos.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Zambia against Laos

   Category	Zambia	Laos	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	752,618	236,800	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	20,723,965	7,664,993	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,080	9,299	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.5	32.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,330	2,817	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° S	19.6° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   IndiavsDominican Republic

   Population: 1,438,069,596 vs 11,331,265 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Dominican Republic.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for India against Dominican Republic

   Category	India	Dominican Republic	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	3,287,263	48,670	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,438,069,596	11,331,265	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,853	25,861	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	437.5	232.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,586	3,098	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,000	1,288	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.4° N	19.1° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   GreecevsEthiopia

   Coastline: 13,676 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ethiopia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Greece against Ethiopia

   Category	Greece	Ethiopia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	131,957	1,104,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,407,351	128,691,692	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	42,614	3,063	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	78.9	116.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,917	4,550	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,676	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.8° N	8.5° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   GambiavsIsrael

   Proximity to equator: 13.6° N vs 30.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Israel.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Gambia against Israel

   Category	Gambia	Israel	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,300	21,937	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,697,845	9,849,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,292	55,301	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	238.7	449.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	63	2,224	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	80	273	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	13.6° N	30.9° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   CroatiavsUzbekistan

   Wealth per person: 47,760 vs 11,679 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Uzbekistan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Croatia against Uzbekistan

   Category	Croatia	Uzbekistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,594	447,400	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,859,686	35,652,307	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	47,760	11,679	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	68.2	79.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,831	4,643	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	5,835	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.8° N	41.5° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    SomaliavsUnited States

    Density: 28.8 vs 34.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Somalia.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Somalia against United States

    Category	Somalia	United States	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	637,657	9,833,517	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,358,615	336,755,052	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,557	82,587	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	28.8	34.2	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,460	6,190	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,025	19,924	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.6° N	39.1° N	Would win