A little knowledge. An empire of 34.

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

   Equatorial GuineavsPortugal

   Flag colours: 8 vs 6 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Portugal.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against Portugal

   Category	Equatorial Guinea	Portugal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,051	92,090	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	10,578,174	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,997	49,800	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	114.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	2,351	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	1,793	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8	6	Would win
   Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.6° N	40.7° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   JordanvsNorway

   Proximity to equator: 30.7° N vs 61.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Norway.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Jordan against Norway

   Category	Jordan	Norway	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	89,342	323,802	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	5,519,601	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	107,768	Would lose
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	128.0	17.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,854	2,469	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	26	25,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	30.7° N	61.5° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   GhanavsCameroon

   Flag colours: 4 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cameroon.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ghana against Cameroon

   Category	Ghana	Cameroon	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	238,533	475,440	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	33,787,914	28,372,687	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,563	5,415	Would win
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	141.6	59.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	885	4,045	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	539	402	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	4.5° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   GuatemalavsHungary

   Proximity to equator: 15.0° N vs 47.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Hungary.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guatemala against Hungary

   Category	Guatemala	Hungary	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	108,889	93,028	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,124,838	9,592,186	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,752	46,376	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	166.5	103.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,220	1,014	Would win
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	400	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.0° N	47.3° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   PhilippinesvsAngola

   Population: 114,891,199 vs 36,749,906 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Angola.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Philippines against Angola

   Category	Philippines	Angola	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	300,000	1,246,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	114,891,199	36,749,906	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,995	9,550	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	383.0	29.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,954	2,620	Would win
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	36,289	1,600	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.0° N	13.2° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   GermanyvsDR Congo

   Coastline: 2,389 vs 37 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered DR Congo.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Germany against DR Congo

   Category	Germany	DR Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	357,022	2,344,858	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	83,287,273	105,789,731	Would lose
   Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,262	1,732	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	233.3	45.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	5,110	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,389	37	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.0° N	1.9° S	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   CambodiavsParaguay

   Proximity to equator: 12.6° N vs 21.6° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Paraguay.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cambodia against Paraguay

   Category	Cambodia	Paraguay	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	181,035	406,752	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,423,880	6,844,146	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,437	17,585	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.2	16.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,810	842	Would win
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	443	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.6° N	21.6° S	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   LebanonvsNepal

   Coastline: 225 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nepal.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Lebanon against Nepal

   Category	Lebanon	Nepal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	10,400	147,181	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,773,493	29,694,614	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,585	5,400	Would win
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	555.1	201.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,088	8,849	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	225	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.2° N	29.0° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   SwedenvsFrance

   Wealth per person: 68,458 vs 60,927 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered France.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sweden against France

   Category	Sweden	France	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	450,295	551,500	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,536,632	65,925,961	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	68,458	60,927	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	23.4	119.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,100	4,810	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,218	3,427	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	65.8° N	46.7° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    PakistanvsZimbabwe

    Density: 310.9 vs 41.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Zimbabwe.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Pakistan against Zimbabwe

    Category	Pakistan	Zimbabwe	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	796,095	390,757	Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	247,504,495	16,340,822	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,019	5,796	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	310.9	41.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,611	2,592	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,046	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	6	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.8° N	19.0° S	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Tied22 countries · 4 lives left

    KyrgyzstanvsBangladesh

    Flag colours: 2 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Bangladesh became contested.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Kyrgyzstan against Bangladesh

    Category	Kyrgyzstan	Bangladesh	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	199,951	148,460	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,099,750	171,466,990	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,304	9,155	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	35.5	1,155.0	Would lose
    Highest peakBlocked in Hard · m · Higher wins ↑	7,439	1,060	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	580	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2	2	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.7° N	24.3° N	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Won24 countries · 4 lives left

    AndorravsVenezuela

    Flag colours: 7 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Venezuela, Bangladesh.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Andorra against Venezuela

    Category	Andorra	Venezuela	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	468	912,050	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	80,856	28,300,854	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	71,790	Unavailable	Unavailable
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	172.8	31.0	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,946	4,978	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,800	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	7.2° N	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Won25 countries · 4 lives left

    Equatorial GuineavsSwitzerland

    Flag colours: 8 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Switzerland.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against Switzerland

    Category	Equatorial Guinea	Switzerland	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,051	41,277	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	8,888,822	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,997	93,940	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	215.3	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	4,634	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.6° N	46.7° N	Would win

14. 14
    Round 14Won26 countries · 4 lives left

    PortugalvsSaudi Arabia

    Flag colours: 6 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Saudi Arabia.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Portugal against Saudi Arabia

    Category	Portugal	Saudi Arabia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	2,149,690	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	33,702,731	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	49,800	71,624	Would lose
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	15.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	3,000	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	2,640	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	23.5° N	Would lose

15. 15
    Round 15Won27 countries · 4 lives left

    JordanvsThailand

    Flag colours: 4 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Thailand.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Jordan against Thailand

    Category	Jordan	Thailand	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	89,342	513,120	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	71,702,435	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	23,598	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	128.0	139.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,854	2,565	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	26	3,219	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.7° N	15.5° N	Would lose

16. 16
    Round 16Won28 countries · 4 lives left

    NorwayvsIndia

    Coastline: 25,148 vs 7,000 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered India.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Norway against India

    Category	Norway	India	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	323,802	3,287,263	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,519,601	1,438,069,596	Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	107,768	9,853	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.0	437.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,469	8,586	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	25,148	7,000	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	61.5° N	22.4° N	Would lose

17. 17
    Round 17Won29 countries · 4 lives left

    GhanavsCentral African Republic

    Coastline: 539 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Central African Republic.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Ghana against Central African Republic

    Category	Ghana	Central African Republic	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	238,533	622,984	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	33,787,914	5,152,421	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,563	1,258	Would win
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	141.6	8.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	885	1,410	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	539	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	7.0° N	Would tie

18. 18
    Round 18Won30 countries · 4 lives left

    CameroonvsBelgium

    Coastline: 402 vs 66.5 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Belgium.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Cameroon against Belgium

    Category	Cameroon	Belgium	Result
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	475,440	30,528	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,372,687	11,779,946	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,415	72,630	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.7	385.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,045	694	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	402	66.5	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.5° N	50.8° N	Would win

19. 19
    Round 19Won31 countries · 4 lives left

    GuatemalavsSomalia

    Wealth per person: 13,752 vs 1,557 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Somalia.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guatemala against Somalia

    Category	Guatemala	Somalia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	108,889	637,657	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,124,838	18,358,615	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,752	1,557	Would win
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	166.5	28.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,220	2,460	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	400	3,025	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.0° N	2.6° N	Would lose

20. 20
    Round 20Won32 countries · 4 lives left

    HungaryvsNigeria

    Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Nigeria.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Hungary against Nigeria

    Category	Hungary	Nigeria	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	93,028	923,768	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,592,186	227,882,945	Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	46,376	8,712	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	103.1	246.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,014	2,419	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	853	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.3° N	9.4° N	Would lose