A little knowledge. An empire of 12.

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 1Lost11 countries · 3 lives left

   NicaraguavsSingapore

   Proximity to equator: 12.6° N vs 1.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Nicaragua.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Nicaragua against Singapore

   Category	Nicaragua	Singapore	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	130,370	719	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,823,613	5,917,648	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	8,327	144,728	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	52.3	8,230.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,085	166	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	910	193	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.6° N	1.4° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won12 countries · 3 lives left

   BulgariavsIreland

   Area: 110,879 vs 70,273 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ireland.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bulgaria against Ireland

   Category	Bulgaria	Ireland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	110,879	70,273	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,446,596	5,311,538	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	38,829	133,440	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.1	75.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,925	1,041	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	354	1,448	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	53.1° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won13 countries · 3 lives left

   LiberiavsSlovakia

   Coastline: 579 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Slovakia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Liberia against Slovakia

   Category	Liberia	Slovakia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	111,369	49,035	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,493,031	5,426,740	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,796	45,865	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	49.3	110.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,447	2,655	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	579	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	48.7° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Lost12 countries · 2 lives left

   Trinidad and TobagovsPoland

   Coastline: 362 vs 440 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Trinidad and Tobago.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Trinidad and Tobago against Poland

   Category	Trinidad and Tobago	Poland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,128	312,685	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,367,510	36,687,353	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	34,652	48,473	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	266.7	117.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	940	2,499	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	362	440	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.3° N	51.9° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Lost11 countries · 1 life left

   FijivsVietnam

   Wealth per person: 14,656 vs 15,034 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Fiji.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Fiji against Vietnam

   Category	Fiji	Vietnam	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	18,274	331,210	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	924,145	100,352,192	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	14,656	15,034	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	50.6	303.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,324	3,144	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,129	3,444	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.8° S	21.7° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won12 countries · 1 life left

   IraqvsKyrgyzstan

   Proximity to equator: 33.3° N vs 41.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Kyrgyzstan.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iraq against Kyrgyzstan

   Category	Iraq	Kyrgyzstan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	438,317	199,951	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	45,074,049	7,099,750	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,665	7,304	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	102.8	35.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,611	7,439	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	58	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	33.3° N	41.7° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won13 countries · 1 life left

   GabonvsMaldives

   Area: 267,667 vs 298 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Maldives.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Gabon against Maldives

   Category	Gabon	Maldives	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	267,667	298	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,484,789	525,994	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	20,773	24,807	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	9.3	1,765.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,050	5	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	885	644	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.6° S	3.3° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Lost12 countries · 0 lives left

   GuineavsZambia

   Flag colours: 3 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea against Zambia

   Category	Guinea	Zambia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	752,618	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	20,723,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	4,080	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	27.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	2,330	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	320	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.7° N	14.7° S	Would win