A little knowledge. An empire of 10.

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 1Lost11 countries · 3 lives left

   Solomon IslandsvsCuba

   Density: 27.7 vs 99.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Solomon Islands.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Solomon Islands against Cuba

   Category	Solomon Islands	Cuba	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,896	110,860	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	800,005	11,019,931	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	2,599	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	27.7	99.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,335	1,974	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	5,313	3,735	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	9.6° S	20.6° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won12 countries · 3 lives left

   BoliviavsComoros

   Wealth per person: 12,903 vs 3,897 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Comoros.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bolivia against Comoros

   Category	Bolivia	Comoros	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,098,581	2,235	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	12,244,159	850,387	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	12,903	3,897	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	11.1	380.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,542	2,360	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	340	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	5	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	16.7° S	11.7° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Lost11 countries · 2 lives left

   Bosnia and HerzegovinavsIsrael

   Wealth per person: 23,376 vs 55,301 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Bosnia and Herzegovina.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Israel

   Category	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Israel	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,197	21,937	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,185,073	9,849,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	23,376	55,301	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	62.2	449.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,386	2,224	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	20	273	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	44.1° N	30.9° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Lost10 countries · 1 life left

   AngolavsAndorra

   Wealth per person: 9,550 vs 71,790 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Angola.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Angola against Andorra

   Category	Angola	Andorra	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,246,700	468	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	36,749,906	80,856	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,550	71,790	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.5	172.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,620	2,946	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,600	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	7	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.2° S	42.5° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won11 countries · 1 life left

   SloveniavsMauritius

   Area: 20,273 vs 2,040 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mauritius.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Slovenia against Mauritius

   Category	Slovenia	Mauritius	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	20,273	2,040	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,120,461	1,248,647	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	56,151	29,403	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	104.6	612.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,864	828	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	46.6	177	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	20.3° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Lost10 countries · 0 lives left

   SurinamevsSouth Korea

   Wealth per person: 21,128 vs 57,430 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Suriname.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Suriname against South Korea

   Category	Suriname	South Korea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,820	99,720	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	628,886	51,712,619	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	21,128	57,430	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	518.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,230	1,950	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	2,413	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.1° N	36.3° N	Would win