A little knowledge. An empire of 15.

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

   KyrgyzstanvsEstonia

   Highest peak: 7,439 vs 318 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kyrgyzstan against Estonia

   Category	Kyrgyzstan	Estonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	199,951	45,228	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,099,750	1,370,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,304	48,848	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	35.5	30.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,439	318	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,794	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.7° N	58.6° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   MaltavsUkraine

   Proximity to equator: 35.9° N vs 49.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Ukraine.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malta against Ukraine

   Category	Malta	Ukraine	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	316	603,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	552,747	37,732,836	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	67,101	17,680	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,749.2	62.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	253	2,061	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	196.8	2,782	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	35.9° N	49.6° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   CzechiavsKenya

   Wealth per person: 56,062 vs 6,322 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kenya.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Czechia against Kenya

   Category	Czechia	Kenya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	78,867	580,367	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,864,042	55,339,003	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	56,062	6,322	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	137.8	95.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,602	5,199	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	536	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.8° N	0.4° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   El SalvadorvsTunisia

   Flag colours: 9 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tunisia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for El Salvador against Tunisia

   Category	El Salvador	Tunisia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	163,610	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	12,200,431	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	14,052	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	299.9	74.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	1,544	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	1,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	35.3° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   BahamasvsCambodia

   Wealth per person: 39,122 vs 7,437 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cambodia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Bahamas against Cambodia

   Category	Bahamas	Cambodia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	181,035	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	17,423,880	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	39,122	7,437	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	96.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	1,810	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,542	443	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	12.6° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   SurinamevsSomalia

   Highest peak: 1,230 vs 2,460 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Suriname.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Suriname against Somalia

   Category	Suriname	Somalia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,820	637,657	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	628,886	18,358,615	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,128	1,557	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	28.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,230	2,460	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	3,025	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.1° N	2.6° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won17 countries · 3 lives left

   New ZealandvsPhilippines

   Highest peak: 3,724 vs 2,954 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Philippines.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for New Zealand against Philippines

   Category	New Zealand	Philippines	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	268,838	300,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,200,000	114,891,199	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	54,950	10,995	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.3	383.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,724	2,954	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	15,134	36,289	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.3° S	17.0° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won18 countries · 3 lives left

   PakistanvsMexico

   Density: 310.9 vs 66.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mexico.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Pakistan against Mexico

   Category	Pakistan	Mexico	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	796,095	1,964,375	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	247,504,495	129,739,759	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,019	25,188	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	310.9	66.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,611	5,636	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,046	9,330	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	11	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.8° N	23.5° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Lost17 countries · 2 lives left

   AzerbaijanvsJapan

   Proximity to equator: 40.5° N vs 36.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Azerbaijan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Azerbaijan against Japan

   Category	Azerbaijan	Japan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	86,600	377,915	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,153,958	124,516,650	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,671	52,726	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	329.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,466	3,776	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	29,751	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	40.5° N	36.7° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Lost16 countries · 1 life left

    ChilevsYemen

    Proximity to equator: 23.4° S vs 15.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Returned to the world: Chile.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Chile against Yemen

    Category	Chile	Yemen	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	756,102	527,968	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,658,835	39,390,799	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	33,174	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	26.0	74.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,893	3,666	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	6,435	1,906	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	23.4° S	15.3° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Lost15 countries · 0 lives left

    GermanyvsNetherlands

    Wealth per person: 72,262 vs 80,392 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Germany.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Germany against Netherlands

    Category	Germany	Netherlands	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	357,022	41,543	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	83,287,273	17,877,117	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	72,262	80,392	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	233.3	430.3	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	322	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,389	451	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.0° N	52.2° N	Would win