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

   SwedenvsLesotho

   Wealth per person: 68,458 vs 2,880 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lesotho.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sweden against Lesotho

   Category	Sweden	Lesotho	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	450,295	30,355	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,536,632	2,311,472	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	68,458	2,880	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	23.4	76.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,100	3,482	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,218	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	65.8° N	29.4° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Solomon IslandsvsNamibia

   Coastline: 5,313 vs 1,572 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Namibia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Solomon Islands against Namibia

   Category	Solomon Islands	Namibia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,896	824,292	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	800,005	2,963,095	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,599	11,248	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.7	3.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,335	2,573	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,313	1,572	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	9.6° S	20.6° S	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Lost13 countries · 3 lives left

   JamaicavsMyanmar

   Coastline: 1,022 vs 1,930 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Jamaica.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Jamaica against Myanmar

   Category	Jamaica	Myanmar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	10,991	676,578	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,839,786	54,133,798	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,661	5,958	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	258.4	80.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,256	5,870	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,022	1,930	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	18.1° N	21.6° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Lost12 countries · 2 lives left

   Sierra LeonevsFrance

   Density: 117.9 vs 119.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Sierra Leone.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Sierra Leone against France

   Category	Sierra Leone	France	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	71,740	551,500	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,460,512	65,925,961	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,371	60,927	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	117.9	119.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,948	4,810	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	3,427	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.7° N	46.7° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won13 countries · 2 lives left

   TajikistanvsPeru

   Flag colours: 4 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Peru.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Tajikistan against Peru

   Category	Tajikistan	Peru	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	144,100	1,285,216	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,389,799	33,845,617	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,968	17,042	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	72.1	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,495	6,746	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,414	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	38.3° N	13.0° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won14 countries · 2 lives left

   AustriavsQatar

   Area: 83,871 vs 11,586 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Qatar.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Austria against Qatar

   Category	Austria	Qatar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	83,871	11,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,131,761	2,656,032	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	74,261	129,025	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	229.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,798	103	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	563	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.7° N	25.1° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won15 countries · 2 lives left

   HaitivsUganda

   Coastline: 1,771 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Uganda.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Haiti against Uganda

   Category	Haiti	Uganda	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	27,750	241,038	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,637,398	48,656,601	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,265	3,100	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	419.4	201.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,674	5,110	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,771	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	5	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.2° N	2.0° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost14 countries · 1 life left

   GuyanavsUnited States

   Density: 3.8 vs 34.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Guyana.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guyana against United States

   Category	Guyana	United States	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	214,969	9,833,517	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	826,353	336,755,052	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	54,774	82,587	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3.8	34.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,775	6,190	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	459	19,924	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.7° N	39.1° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won15 countries · 1 life left

   IndiavsUnited Arab Emirates

   Population: 1,438,069,596 vs 10,483,751 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered United Arab Emirates.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for India against United Arab Emirates

   Category	India	United Arab Emirates	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	3,287,263	83,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,438,069,596	10,483,751	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,853	78,020	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	437.5	125.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,586	1,905	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,000	1,318	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.4° N	23.5° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won16 countries · 1 life left

    GermanyvsGuyana

    Wealth per person: 72,262 vs 54,774 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Guyana.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Germany against Guyana

    Category	Germany	Guyana	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	357,022	214,969	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	83,287,273	826,353	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	72,262	54,774	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	233.3	3.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	2,775	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,389	459	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.0° N	2.7° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Won17 countries · 1 life left

    Papua New GuineavsGhana

    Area: 462,840 vs 238,533 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Ghana.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Papua New Guinea against Ghana

    Category	Papua New Guinea	Ghana	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	462,840	238,533	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,389,635	33,787,914	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,672	7,563	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	22.4	141.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,509	885	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	5,152	539	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	5.5° S	7.0° N	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Won18 countries · 1 life left

    PortugalvsVietnam

    Wealth per person: 49,800 vs 15,034 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Vietnam.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Portugal against Vietnam

    Category	Portugal	Vietnam	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	331,210	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	100,352,192	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49,800	15,034	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	303.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	3,144	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	3,444	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	21.7° N	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Lost17 countries · 0 lives left

    SwedenvsNorth Korea

    Highest peak: 2,100 vs 2,744 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Sweden.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Sweden against North Korea

    Category	Sweden	North Korea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	450,295	120,538	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,536,632	26,418,204	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	68,458	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	23.4	219.2	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,100	2,744	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,218	2,495	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	65.8° N	39.9° N	Would lose