A little knowledge. An empire of 15.

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

   TurkmenistanvsVietnam

   Flag colours: 5 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vietnam.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Turkmenistan against Vietnam

   Category	Turkmenistan	Vietnam	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	488,100	331,210	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,364,438	100,352,192	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	19,645	15,034	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.1	303.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,139	3,144	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,444	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	21.7° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   MozambiquevsBenin

   Population: 33,635,160 vs 14,111,034 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Benin.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mozambique against Benin

   Category	Mozambique	Benin	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	799,380	112,622	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	33,635,160	14,111,034	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,680	4,133	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	42.1	125.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,436	675	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,470	121	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.0° S	10.4° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   IcelandvsSouth Korea

   Wealth per person: 82,257 vs 57,430 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Korea.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iceland against South Korea

   Category	Iceland	South Korea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	103,000	99,720	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	385,663	51,712,619	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	82,257	57,430	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.7	518.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,110	1,950	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,970	2,413	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	64.7° N	36.3° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   GuineavsMali

   Coastline: 320 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mali.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea against Mali

   Category	Guinea	Mali	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	1,240,192	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	23,769,127	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	3,178	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	19.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	1,155	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	320	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.7° N	18.6° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   CambodiavsVanuatu

   Population: 17,423,880 vs 320,409 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vanuatu.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cambodia against Vanuatu

   Category	Cambodia	Vanuatu	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	181,035	12,189	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	17,423,880	320,409	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,437	4,202	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.2	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,810	1,877	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	443	2,528	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.6° N	15.4° S	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   AustriavsRwanda

   Highest peak: 3,798 vs 4,519 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Austria.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Austria against Rwanda

   Category	Austria	Rwanda	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,871	26,338	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,131,761	13,954,471	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	74,261	3,519	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	529.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,798	4,519	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.7° N	1.8° S	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won17 countries · 3 lives left

   SpainvsBurkina Faso

   Density: 95.7 vs 84.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Burkina Faso.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Spain against Burkina Faso

   Category	Spain	Burkina Faso	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	505,370	274,200	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	48,352,528	23,025,776	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	55,661	2,762	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	95.7	84.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,718	749	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	12.8° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost16 countries · 2 lives left

   KyrgyzstanvsEritrea

   Flag colours: 2 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Kyrgyzstan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kyrgyzstan against Eritrea

   Category	Kyrgyzstan	Eritrea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	199,951	117,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,099,750	3,470,390	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	7,304	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	35.5	29.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,439	3,018	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,234	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.7° N	16.0° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Lost15 countries · 1 life left

   Costa RicavsEgypt

   Coastline: 1,290 vs 2,450 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Costa Rica.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Costa Rica against Egypt

   Category	Costa Rica	Egypt	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,100	1,001,450	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,105,525	114,535,772	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	29,248	18,540	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.9	114.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,819	2,629	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,290	2,450	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.1° N	26.3° N	Would win