A little knowledge. An empire of 17.

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

   EswatinivsNamibia

   Density: 70.9 vs 3.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Namibia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Eswatini against Namibia

   Category	Eswatini	Namibia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,364	824,292	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,230,506	2,963,095	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,309	11,248	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	70.9	3.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,862	2,573	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,572	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	5	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.6° S	20.6° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   VanuatuvsIsrael

   Proximity to equator: 15.4° S vs 30.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Israel.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Vanuatu against Israel

   Category	Vanuatu	Israel	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	12,189	21,937	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	320,409	9,849,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,202	55,301	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	26.3	449.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,877	2,224	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,528	273	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.4° S	30.9° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   MaldivesvsNorway

   Proximity to equator: 3.3° N vs 61.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Norway.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Maldives against Norway

   Category	Maldives	Norway	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	323,802	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	5,519,601	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,807	107,768	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,765.1	17.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	2,469	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	644	25,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	3.3° N	61.5° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   GambiavsTogo

   Density: 238.7 vs 144.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Togo.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Gambia against Togo

   Category	Gambia	Togo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,300	56,785	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,697,845	8,223,850	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,292	3,572	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	238.7	144.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	63	986	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	80	56	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.6° N	8.9° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   PortugalvsHonduras

   Wealth per person: 49,800 vs 7,184 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Honduras.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Portugal against Honduras

   Category	Portugal	Honduras	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	112,090	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	10,644,851	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49,800	7,184	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	95.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	2,870	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	823	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	14.7° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   SyriavsSudan

   Density: 125.9 vs 26.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Syria against Sudan

   Category	Syria	Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	187,437	1,861,484	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,594,623	50,042,791	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	2,423	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	125.9	26.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,814	3,042	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	853	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.0° N	16.6° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   JamaicavsHaiti

   Coastline: 1,022 vs 1,771 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Jamaica.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Jamaica against Haiti

   Category	Jamaica	Haiti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	10,991	27,750	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,839,786	11,637,398	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,661	3,265	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	258.4	419.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,256	2,674	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,022	1,771	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	7	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	18.1° N	19.2° N	Would win