A little knowledge. An empire of 19.

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

   GermanyvsSyria

   Population: 83,287,273 vs 23,594,623 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Syria.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Germany against Syria

   Category	Germany	Syria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	357,022	187,437	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	83,287,273	23,594,623	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	72,262	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	233.3	125.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	2,814	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,389	193	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.0° N	35.0° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   EgyptvsDR Congo

   Population: 114,535,772 vs 105,789,731 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered DR Congo.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Egypt against DR Congo

   Category	Egypt	DR Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,001,450	2,344,858	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	114,535,772	105,789,731	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,540	1,732	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.4	45.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,629	5,110	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,450	37	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.3° N	1.9° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   VanuatuvsRepublic of the Congo

   Coastline: 2,528 vs 169 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Republic of the Congo.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Vanuatu against Republic of the Congo

   Category	Vanuatu	Republic of the Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	12,189	342,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	320,409	6,182,885	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,202	6,856	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	26.3	18.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,877	1,020	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,528	169	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.4° S	0.1° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   Côte d’IvoirevsRwanda

   Area: 322,463 vs 26,338 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Rwanda.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Côte d’Ivoire against Rwanda

   Category	Côte d’Ivoire	Rwanda	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	322,463	26,338	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,165,654	13,954,471	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,243	3,519	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.6	529.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	4,519	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	515	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.5° N	1.8° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   CyprusvsTrinidad and Tobago

   Wealth per person: 59,875 vs 34,652 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Trinidad and Tobago.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cyprus against Trinidad and Tobago

   Category	Cyprus	Trinidad and Tobago	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,251	5,128	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	1,367,510	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	59,875	34,652	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	145.4	266.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	940	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	648	362	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	10.3° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   Guinea-BissauvsMauritius

   Proximity to equator: 12.1° N vs 20.3° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Mauritius.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea-Bissau against Mauritius

   Category	Guinea-Bissau	Mauritius	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	36,125	2,040	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,153,339	1,248,647	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,956	29,403	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.6	612.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	277	828	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	350	177	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.1° N	20.3° S	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   SpainvsCzechia

   Population: 48,352,528 vs 10,864,042 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Czechia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Spain against Czechia

   Category	Spain	Czechia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	505,370	78,867	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,352,528	10,864,042	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	55,661	56,062	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.7	137.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,718	1,602	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,964	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.0° N	49.8° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   JordanvsLesotho

   Area: 89,342 vs 30,355 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lesotho.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Jordan against Lesotho

   Category	Jordan	Lesotho	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	89,342	30,355	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	2,311,472	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	2,880	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	128.0	76.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,854	3,482	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	26	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.7° N	29.4° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Lost19 countries · 3 lives left

   FinlandvsParaguay

   Area: 338,145 vs 406,752 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Finland.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Finland against Paraguay

   Category	Finland	Paraguay	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	338,145	406,752	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,583,911	6,844,146	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	63,467	17,585	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.5	16.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,328	842	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,250	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.3° N	21.6° S	Would lose