A little knowledge. An empire of 20.

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

   HungaryvsRomania

   Wealth per person: 46,376 vs 45,982 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Romania.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Hungary against Romania

   Category	Hungary	Romania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	93,028	238,391	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,592,186	19,061,062	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	46,376	45,982	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	103.1	80.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,014	2,544	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	225	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.3° N	45.7° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   United Arab EmiratesvsLibya

   Density: 125.4 vs 4.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Libya.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United Arab Emirates against Libya

   Category	United Arab Emirates	Libya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,600	1,759,540	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,483,751	7,305,659	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	78,020	13,858	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	125.4	4.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,905	2,267	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,318	1,770	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	26.1° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   YemenvsTürkiye

   Proximity to equator: 15.3° N vs 39.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Türkiye.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Yemen against Türkiye

   Category	Yemen	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	527,968	783,562	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	39,390,799	85,325,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	Unavailable	43,196	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,666	5,137	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,906	7,200	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.3° N	39.1° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   SomaliavsGuinea

   Population: 18,358,615 vs 14,405,468 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Somalia against Guinea

   Category	Somalia	Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	637,657	245,857	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	18,358,615	14,405,468	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,557	4,337	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	58.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,460	1,752	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,025	320	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.6° N	10.7° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   BelarusvsJamaica

   Wealth per person: 30,860 vs 12,661 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Jamaica.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Belarus against Jamaica

   Category	Belarus	Jamaica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	207,600	10,991	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,178,298	2,839,786	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	30,860	12,661	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	44.2	258.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	346	2,256	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,022	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	53.8° N	18.1° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   EstoniavsFinland

   Density: 30.3 vs 16.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Finland.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Estonia against Finland

   Category	Estonia	Finland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	338,145	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	5,583,911	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	48,848	63,467	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	30.3	16.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	1,328	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,794	1,250	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	63.3° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   ChinavsVietnam

   Population: 1,410,710,000 vs 100,352,192 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vietnam.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for China against Vietnam

   Category	China	Vietnam	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,596,960	331,210	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,410,710,000	100,352,192	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,200	15,034	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	147.0	303.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,849	3,144	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	14,500	3,444	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.5° N	21.7° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   MalaysiavsLebanon

   Population: 35,126,298 vs 5,773,493 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lebanon.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malaysia against Lebanon

   Category	Malaysia	Lebanon	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	329,847	10,400	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	35,126,298	5,773,493	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	36,497	12,585	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	106.5	555.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,095	3,088	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,675	225	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.4° N	34.2° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   BruneivsZimbabwe

   Wealth per person: 85,103 vs 5,796 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Zimbabwe.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Brunei against Zimbabwe

   Category	Brunei	Zimbabwe	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,765	390,757	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	458,949	16,340,822	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	85,103	5,796	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	79.6	41.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,850	2,592	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.5° N	19.0° S	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    DjiboutivsBahrain

    Population: 1,152,944 vs 1,577,059 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Djibouti.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Djibouti against Bahrain

    Category	Djibouti	Bahrain	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	23,200	760	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,152,944	1,577,059	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,232	64,224	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	49.7	2,075.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,021	135	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	314	161	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	11.4° N	26.0° N	Would win