A little knowledge. An empire of 28.

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

   IranvsLatvia

   Area: 1,648,195 vs 64,589 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Latvia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iran against Latvia

   Category	Iran	Latvia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,648,195	64,589	Would win
   PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	90,608,707	1,883,710	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	42,784	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	29.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	312	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	498	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	56.6° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   LiberiavsGuinea-Bissau

   Population: 5,493,031 vs 2,153,339 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guinea-Bissau.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Liberia against Guinea-Bissau

   Category	Liberia	Guinea-Bissau	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	111,369	36,125	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,493,031	2,153,339	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,796	2,956	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	49.3	59.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,447	277	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	579	350	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	12.1° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   MalaysiavsAustria

   Population: 35,126,298 vs 9,131,761 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Austria.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malaysia against Austria

   Category	Malaysia	Austria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	329,847	83,871	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	35,126,298	9,131,761	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	36,497	74,261	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	106.5	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,095	3,798	Would win
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	4,675	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.4° N	47.7° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Lost14 countries · 3 lives left

   CzechiavsSyria

   Highest peak: 1,602 vs 2,814 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Czechia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Czechia against Syria

   Category	Czechia	Syria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	78,867	187,437	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,864,042	23,594,623	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	56,062	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	137.8	125.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,602	2,814	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	193	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.8° N	35.0° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won15 countries · 3 lives left

   ZimbabwevsRussia

   Density: 41.8 vs 8.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Russia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Zimbabwe against Russia

   Category	Zimbabwe	Russia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	390,757	17,098,242	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	16,340,822	143,826,130	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,796	44,299	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	41.8	8.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,592	5,642	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	37,653	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.0° S	63.6° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won16 countries · 3 lives left

   MauritiusvsGreece

   Flag colours: 4 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Greece.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Mauritius against Greece

   Category	Mauritius	Greece	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,040	131,957	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,248,647	10,407,351	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	29,403	42,614	Would lose
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	612.1	78.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	828	2,917	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	177	13,676	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.3° S	39.8° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost15 countries · 2 lives left

   Trinidad and TobagovsEcuador

   Flag colours: 3 vs 11 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Trinidad and Tobago.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Trinidad and Tobago against Ecuador

   Category	Trinidad and Tobago	Ecuador	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,128	283,561	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,367,510	17,980,083	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	34,652	15,907	Would win
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	266.7	63.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	940	6,267	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	2,237	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	11	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.3° N	1.2° S	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won16 countries · 2 lives left

   TunisiavsPapua New Guinea

   Population: 12,200,431 vs 10,389,635 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Papua New Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Tunisia against Papua New Guinea

   Category	Tunisia	Papua New Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,610	462,840	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	12,200,431	10,389,635	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,052	4,672	Would win
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	22.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,544	4,509	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,148	5,152	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.3° N	5.5° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Lost15 countries · 1 life left

   LesothovsUganda

   Wealth per person: 2,880 vs 3,100 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Lesotho.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Lesotho against Uganda

   Category	Lesotho	Uganda	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,355	241,038	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,311,472	48,656,601	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,880	3,100	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	76.1	201.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,482	5,110	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° S	2.0° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won16 countries · 1 life left

    NigervsSyria

    Proximity to equator: 17.6° N vs 35.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Syria.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Niger against Syria

    Category	Niger	Syria	Result
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	1,267,000	187,437	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,159,867	23,594,623	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	1,903	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.6	125.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,022	2,814	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	193	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	17.6° N	35.0° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won17 countries · 1 life left

    Central African RepublicvsTogo

    Highest peak: 1,410 vs 986 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Togo.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Central African Republic against Togo

    Category	Central African Republic	Togo	Result
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	622,984	56,785	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,152,421	8,223,850	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,258	3,572	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.3	144.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,410	986	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	56	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	8.9° N	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Won18 countries · 1 life left

    FinlandvsPhilippines

    Area: 338,145 vs 300,000 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Philippines.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Finland against Philippines

    Category	Finland	Philippines	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	338,145	300,000	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,583,911	114,891,199	Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	63,467	10,995	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.5	383.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,328	2,954	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,250	36,289	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.3° N	17.0° N	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Won19 countries · 1 life left

    IranvsYemen

    Highest peak: 5,625 vs 3,666 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Yemen.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Iran against Yemen

    Category	Iran	Yemen	Result
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	1,648,195	527,968	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	90,608,707	39,390,799	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	18,933	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	74.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,625	3,666	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	1,906	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	15.3° N	Would lose

14. 14
    Round 14Won20 countries · 1 life left

    LatviavsBotswana

    Wealth per person: 42,784 vs 21,029 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Botswana.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Latvia against Botswana

    Category	Latvia	Botswana	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	64,589	581,730	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,883,710	2,480,244	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	42,784	21,029	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.2	4.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	312	1,495	Would lose
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	498	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	56.6° N	22.1° S	Would lose

15. 15
    Round 15Tied20 countries · 1 life left

    LiberiavsCuba

    Flag colours: 3 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Cuba became contested.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Liberia against Cuba

    Category	Liberia	Cuba	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	111,369	110,860	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,493,031	11,019,931	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	1,796	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	49.3	99.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,447	1,974	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	579	3,735	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	20.6° N	Would win

16. 16
    Round 16Won22 countries · 1 life left

    Guinea-BissauvsEritrea

    Proximity to equator: 12.1° N vs 16.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Eritrea, Cuba.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guinea-Bissau against Eritrea

    Category	Guinea-Bissau	Eritrea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	36,125	117,600	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,153,339	3,470,390	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	2,956	Unavailable	Unavailable
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	59.6	29.5	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	277	3,018	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	350	2,234	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.1° N	16.0° N	Would win

17. 17
    Round 17Won23 countries · 1 life left

    MalaysiavsGabon

    Density: 106.5 vs 9.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Gabon.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Malaysia against Gabon

    Category	Malaysia	Gabon	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	329,847	267,667	Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	35,126,298	2,484,789	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	36,497	20,773	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	106.5	9.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,095	1,050	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,675	885	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.4° N	0.6° S	Would lose

18. 18
    Round 18Won24 countries · 1 life left

    AustriavsSlovenia

    Density: 108.9 vs 104.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Slovenia.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Austria against Slovenia

    Category	Austria	Slovenia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,871	20,273	Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	9,131,761	2,120,461	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	74,261	56,151	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	108.9	104.6	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,798	2,864	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	46.6	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.7° N	46.0° N	Would lose

19. 19
    Round 19Won25 countries · 1 life left

    ZimbabwevsBurkina Faso

    Area: 390,757 vs 274,200 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Burkina Faso.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Zimbabwe against Burkina Faso

    Category	Zimbabwe	Burkina Faso	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	390,757	274,200	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	16,340,822	23,025,776	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,796	2,762	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	41.8	84.0	Would lose
    Highest peakBlocked in Hard · m · Higher wins ↑	2,592	749	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.0° S	12.8° N	Would lose

20. 20
    Round 20Won26 countries · 1 life left

    RussiavsNamibia

    Area: 17,098,242 vs 824,292 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Namibia.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Russia against Namibia

    Category	Russia	Namibia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	17,098,242	824,292	Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	143,826,130	2,963,095	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	44,299	11,248	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.4	3.6	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,642	2,573	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37,653	1,572	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.6° N	20.6° S	Would lose