A little knowledge. An empire of 17.

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

   ColombiavsUzbekistan

   Population: 52,321,152 vs 35,652,307 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Uzbekistan.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Colombia against Uzbekistan

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

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   VenezuelavsBrunei

   Area: 912,050 vs 5,765 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Brunei.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Venezuela against Brunei

   Category	Venezuela	Brunei	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	912,050	5,765	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,300,854	458,949	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	Unavailable	85,103	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	31.0	79.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,978	1,850	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,800	161	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.2° N	4.5° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   SloveniavsBelarus

   Wealth per person: 56,151 vs 30,860 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Belarus.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Slovenia against Belarus

   Category	Slovenia	Belarus	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	20,273	207,600	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,120,461	9,178,298	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	56,151	30,860	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	104.6	44.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,864	346	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	46.6	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	53.8° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   PanamavsBosnia and Herzegovina

   Coastline: 2,490 vs 20 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bosnia and Herzegovina.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Panama against Bosnia and Herzegovina

   Category	Panama	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	75,420	51,197	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	4,458,759	3,185,073	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	39,846	23,376	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.1	62.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,475	2,386	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,490	20	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.4° N	44.1° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   RomaniavsLuxembourg

   Area: 238,391 vs 2,586 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Luxembourg.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Romania against Luxembourg

   Category	Romania	Luxembourg	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	238,391	2,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,061,062	666,430	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	45,982	152,596	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	80.0	257.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,544	559	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	225	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.7° N	49.7° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   RwandavsCabo Verde

   Proximity to equator: 1.8° S vs 15.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Cabo Verde.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Rwanda against Cabo Verde

   Category	Rwanda	Cabo Verde	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	26,338	4,033	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,954,471	522,331	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,519	10,251	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	529.8	129.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,519	2,829	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	965	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.8° S	15.0° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   EswatinivsLesotho

   Density: 70.9 vs 76.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Eswatini.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Eswatini against Lesotho

   Category	Eswatini	Lesotho	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,364	30,355	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,230,506	2,311,472	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,309	2,880	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	70.9	76.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,862	3,482	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.6° S	29.4° S	Would win