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

   New ZealandvsVietnam

   Wealth per person: 54,950 vs 15,034 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vietnam.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for New Zealand against Vietnam

   Category	New Zealand	Vietnam	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	268,838	331,210	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,200,000	100,352,192	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	54,950	15,034	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.3	303.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,724	3,144	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	15,134	3,444	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.3° S	21.7° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   SurinamevsEquatorial Guinea

   Wealth per person: 21,128 vs 16,997 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Equatorial Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Suriname against Equatorial Guinea

   Category	Suriname	Equatorial Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,820	28,051	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	628,886	1,847,549	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	21,128	16,997	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	65.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,230	3,008	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	296	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	8	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.1° N	1.6° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   BotswanavsNetherlands

   Area: 581,730 vs 41,543 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Netherlands.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Botswana against Netherlands

   Category	Botswana	Netherlands	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	581,730	41,543	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,480,244	17,877,117	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,029	80,392	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.3	430.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,495	322	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	451	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° S	52.2° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   PhilippinesvsQatar

   Population: 114,891,199 vs 2,656,032 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Qatar.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Philippines against Qatar

   Category	Philippines	Qatar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	300,000	11,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	114,891,199	2,656,032	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,995	129,025	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	383.0	229.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,954	103	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	36,289	563	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.0° N	25.1° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   TürkiyevsGhana

   Population: 85,325,965 vs 33,787,914 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ghana.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Türkiye against Ghana

   Category	Türkiye	Ghana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	783,562	238,533	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	85,325,965	33,787,914	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	43,196	7,563	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	141.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,137	885	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,200	539	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.1° N	7.0° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Tied17 countries · 4 lives left

   TurkmenistanvsAfghanistan

   Flag colours: 5 vs 5 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Afghanistan became contested.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Turkmenistan against Afghanistan

   Category	Turkmenistan	Afghanistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	488,100	652,230	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,364,438	41,454,761	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	19,645	2,204	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.1	63.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,139	7,492	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5	5	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	34.3° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   IraqvsSpain

   Population: 45,074,049 vs 48,352,528 people · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Iraq, Afghanistan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iraq against Spain

   Category	Iraq	Spain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	438,317	505,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45,074,049	48,352,528	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,665	55,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	102.8	95.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,611	3,718	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	58	4,964	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	33.3° N	40.0° N	Would win