A little knowledge. An empire of 38.

Every comparison uses this expedition’s original data and rules. “Would win” describes this matchup only; a different choice would change the later journey.

21. 21
    Round 21Won29 countries · 2 lives left

    AfghanistanvsEritrea

    Area: 652,230 vs 117,600 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Eritrea.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Afghanistan against Eritrea

    Category	Afghanistan	Eritrea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	652,230	117,600	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	41,454,761	3,470,390	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	2,204	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	63.6	29.5	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,492	3,018	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,234	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.3° N	16.0° N	Would lose

22. 22
    Round 22Won30 countries · 2 lives left

    GreecevsBelgium

    Coastline: 13,676 vs 66.5 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Belgium.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Greece against Belgium

    Category	Greece	Belgium	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	131,957	30,528	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,407,351	11,779,946	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	42,614	72,630	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	78.9	385.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,917	694	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,676	66.5	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.8° N	50.8° N	Would win

23. 23
    Round 23Won31 countries · 2 lives left

    SwitzerlandvsChile

    Wealth per person: 93,940 vs 33,174 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Chile.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Switzerland against Chile

    Category	Switzerland	Chile	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	41,277	756,102	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,888,822	19,658,835	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	93,940	33,174	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	215.3	26.0	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,634	6,893	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	6,435	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	23.4° S	Would lose

24. 24
    Round 24Won32 countries · 2 lives left

    LaosvsVanuatu

    Area: 236,800 vs 12,189 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Vanuatu.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Laos against Vanuatu

    Category	Laos	Vanuatu	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	236,800	12,189	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,664,993	320,409	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,299	4,202	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	32.4	26.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,817	1,877	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,528	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.6° N	15.4° S	Would lose

25. 25
    Round 25Won33 countries · 2 lives left

    GuyanavsChad

    Coastline: 459 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Chad.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guyana against Chad

    Category	Guyana	Chad	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	214,969	1,284,000	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	826,353	19,319,064	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	54,774	2,703	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	15.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,775	3,445	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	459	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.7° N	17.3° N	Would win

26. 26
    Round 26Won34 countries · 2 lives left

    BeninvsUruguay

    Proximity to equator: 10.4° N vs 32.9° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Uruguay.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Benin against Uruguay

    Category	Benin	Uruguay	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,622	176,215	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,111,034	3,388,081	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,133	34,546	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.3	19.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	675	514	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	121	660	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.4° N	32.9° S	Would win

27. 27
    Round 27Won35 countries · 2 lives left

    IcelandvsSpain

    Wealth per person: 82,257 vs 55,661 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Spain.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Iceland against Spain

    Category	Iceland	Spain	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	103,000	505,370	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	385,663	48,352,528	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	82,257	55,661	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.7	95.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,110	3,718	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,970	4,964	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	10	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	64.7° N	40.0° N	Would lose

28. 28
    Round 28Lost34 countries · 1 life left

    Guinea-BissauvsGermany

    Density: 59.6 vs 233.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Guinea-Bissau.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guinea-Bissau against Germany

    Category	Guinea-Bissau	Germany	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	36,125	357,022	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,153,339	83,287,273	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,956	72,262	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	59.6	233.3	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	277	2,963	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	350	2,389	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.1° N	51.0° N	Would win

29. 29
    Round 29Won35 countries · 1 life left

    United Arab EmiratesvsRepublic of the Congo

    Wealth per person: 78,020 vs 6,856 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Republic of the Congo.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for United Arab Emirates against Republic of the Congo

    Category	United Arab Emirates	Republic of the Congo	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,600	342,000	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,483,751	6,182,885	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	78,020	6,856	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.4	18.1	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,905	1,020	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,318	169	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	0.1° N	Would lose

30. 30
    Round 30Won36 countries · 1 life left

    CroatiavsGeorgia

    Coastline: 5,835 vs 310 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Georgia.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Croatia against Georgia

    Category	Croatia	Georgia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,594	69,700	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,859,686	3,715,483	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	47,760	25,093	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	68.2	53.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,831	5,193	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,835	310	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.8° N	42.4° N	Would lose

31. 31
    Round 31Tied36 countries · 1 life left

    BurundivsEswatini

    Coastline: 0 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Eswatini became contested.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Burundi against Eswatini

    Category	Burundi	Eswatini	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	27,830	17,364	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,689,450	1,230,506	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,147	11,309	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	491.9	70.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,685	1,862	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.4° S	26.6° S	Would win

32. 32
    Round 32Won38 countries · 1 life left

    New ZealandvsGuatemala

    Coastline: 15,134 vs 400 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Guatemala, Eswatini.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for New Zealand against Guatemala

    Category	New Zealand	Guatemala	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	268,838	108,889	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,200,000	18,124,838	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	54,950	13,752	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.3	166.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,724	4,220	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	15,134	400	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	9	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.3° S	15.0° N	Would lose

33. 33
    Round 33Won39 countries · 1 life left

    Costa RicavsNiger

    Coastline: 1,290 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Niger.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Costa Rica against Niger

    Category	Costa Rica	Niger	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,100	1,267,000	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,105,525	26,159,867	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	29,248	1,903	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.9	20.6	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,819	2,022	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,290	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.1° N	17.6° N	Would win

34. 34
    Round 34Lost38 countries · 0 lives left

    MauritiusvsSierra Leone

    Coastline: 177 vs 402 km · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Mauritius.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Mauritius against Sierra Leone

    Category	Mauritius	Sierra Leone	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,040	71,740	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,248,647	8,460,512	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	29,403	3,371	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	612.1	117.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	828	1,948	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	177	402	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.3° S	8.7° N	Would lose