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

   Republic of the CongovsMauritania

   Proximity to equator: 0.1° N vs 19.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Mauritania.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Republic of the Congo against Mauritania

   Category	Republic of the Congo	Mauritania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	342,000	1,030,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,182,885	5,022,441	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,856	6,972	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	18.1	4.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	915	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	169	754	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	0.1° N	19.4° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   EstoniavsEritrea

   Density: 30.3 vs 29.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Eritrea.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Estonia against Eritrea

   Category	Estonia	Eritrea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	117,600	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	3,470,390	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	48,848	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	30.3	29.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	3,018	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,794	2,234	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	16.0° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   NigervsBurkina Faso

   Area: 1,267,000 vs 274,200 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Burkina Faso.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Niger against Burkina Faso

   Category	Niger	Burkina Faso	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,267,000	274,200	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,159,867	23,025,776	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,903	2,762	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.6	84.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,022	749	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.6° N	12.8° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   CzechiavsMalaysia

   Wealth per person: 56,062 vs 36,497 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Malaysia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Czechia against Malaysia

   Category	Czechia	Malaysia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	78,867	329,847	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,864,042	35,126,298	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	56,062	36,497	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	137.8	106.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,602	4,095	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,675	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.8° N	4.4° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   South KoreavsLiberia

   Wealth per person: 57,430 vs 1,796 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Liberia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Korea against Liberia

   Category	South Korea	Liberia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	99,720	111,369	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	51,712,619	5,493,031	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	57,430	1,796	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	518.6	49.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,950	1,447	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,413	579	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	36.3° N	7.0° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   VanuatuvsSpain

   Density: 26.3 vs 95.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Vanuatu.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Vanuatu against Spain

   Category	Vanuatu	Spain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	12,189	505,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	320,409	48,352,528	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,202	55,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	26.3	95.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,877	3,718	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,528	4,964	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.4° S	40.0° N	Would win