A little knowledge. An empire of 18.

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

   UruguayvsBurkina Faso

   Wealth per person: 34,546 vs 2,762 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Burkina Faso.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uruguay against Burkina Faso

   Category	Uruguay	Burkina Faso	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	176,215	274,200	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,388,081	23,025,776	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	34,546	2,762	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	84.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	514	749	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	660	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.9° S	12.8° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   RwandavsMauritania

   Density: 529.8 vs 4.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mauritania.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Rwanda against Mauritania

   Category	Rwanda	Mauritania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	26,338	1,030,700	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,954,471	5,022,441	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,519	6,972	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	529.8	4.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,519	915	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	754	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.8° S	19.4° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Lost13 countries · 3 lives left

   FinlandvsSri Lanka

   Coastline: 1,250 vs 1,340 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Finland.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Finland against Sri Lanka

   Category	Finland	Sri Lanka	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	338,145	65,610	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,583,911	22,037,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	63,467	14,512	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.5	335.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,328	2,524	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,250	1,340	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.3° N	7.1° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won14 countries · 3 lives left

   CubavsIran

   Coastline: 3,735 vs 2,440 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Iran.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cuba against Iran

   Category	Cuba	Iran	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	110,860	1,648,195	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,019,931	90,608,707	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	Unavailable	18,933	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.4	55.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,974	5,625	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,735	2,440	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° N	32.1° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won15 countries · 3 lives left

   North MacedoniavsSlovenia

   Proximity to equator: 41.5° N vs 46.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Slovenia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for North Macedonia against Slovenia

   Category	North Macedonia	Slovenia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	25,713	20,273	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,827,816	2,120,461	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,354	56,151	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	71.1	104.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,764	2,864	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	46.6	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	41.5° N	46.0° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Lost14 countries · 2 lives left

   LatviavsGuatemala

   Flag colours: 2 vs 9 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Latvia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Latvia against Guatemala

   Category	Latvia	Guatemala	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	64,589	108,889	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,883,710	18,124,838	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	42,784	13,752	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.2	166.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	312	4,220	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	498	400	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	56.6° N	15.0° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won15 countries · 2 lives left

   Costa RicavsIraq

   Wealth per person: 29,248 vs 14,665 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Iraq.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Costa Rica against Iraq

   Category	Costa Rica	Iraq	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,100	438,317	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,105,525	45,074,049	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	29,248	14,665	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.9	102.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,819	3,611	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,290	58	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.1° N	33.3° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won16 countries · 2 lives left

   Central African RepublicvsTajikistan

   Flag colours: 5 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tajikistan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Central African Republic against Tajikistan

   Category	Central African Republic	Tajikistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	622,984	144,100	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,152,421	10,389,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,258	4,968	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.3	72.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,410	7,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	38.3° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Lost15 countries · 1 life left

   SerbiavsZambia

   Highest peak: 2,169 vs 2,330 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Serbia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Serbia against Zambia

   Category	Serbia	Zambia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	77,474	752,618	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,623,183	20,723,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	29,777	4,080	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	85.5	27.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,169	2,330	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	44.2° N	14.7° S	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won16 countries · 1 life left

    HondurasvsBosnia and Herzegovina

    Coastline: 823 vs 20 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Honduras against Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Category	Honduras	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,090	51,197	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,644,851	3,185,073	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,184	23,376	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.0	62.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,870	2,386	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	823	20	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° N	44.1° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won17 countries · 1 life left

    KazakhstanvsVietnam

    Area: 2,724,900 vs 331,210 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Vietnam.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Kazakhstan against Vietnam

    Category	Kazakhstan	Vietnam	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,724,900	331,210	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	20,330,104	100,352,192	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	38,547	15,034	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	7.5	303.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,010	3,144	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,444	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.5° N	21.7° N	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Won18 countries · 1 life left

    PortugalvsHaiti

    Wealth per person: 49,800 vs 3,265 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Haiti.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Portugal against Haiti

    Category	Portugal	Haiti	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	27,750	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	11,637,398	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49,800	3,265	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	419.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	2,674	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	1,771	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	7	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	19.2° N	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Won19 countries · 1 life left

    UruguayvsTurkmenistan

    Wealth per person: 34,546 vs 19,645 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Turkmenistan.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Uruguay against Turkmenistan

    Category	Uruguay	Turkmenistan	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	176,215	488,100	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,388,081	7,364,438	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	34,546	19,645	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	15.1	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	514	3,139	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	660	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.9° S	39.9° N	Would win

14. 14
    Round 14Lost18 countries · 0 lives left

    Burkina FasovsRomania

    Coastline: 0 vs 225 km · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Burkina Faso.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Burkina Faso against Romania

    Category	Burkina Faso	Romania	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	274,200	238,391	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,025,776	19,061,062	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,762	45,982	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	84.0	80.0	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	749	2,544	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	0	225	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.8° N	45.7° N	Would win