A little knowledge. An empire of 13.

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

   TajikistanvsLaos

   Flag colours: 4 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Laos.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Tajikistan against Laos

   Category	Tajikistan	Laos	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	144,100	236,800	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,389,799	7,664,993	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,968	9,299	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	72.1	32.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,495	2,817	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	38.3° N	19.6° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   MexicovsIsrael

   Area: 1,964,375 vs 21,937 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Israel.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mexico against Israel

   Category	Mexico	Israel	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,964,375	21,937	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	129,739,759	9,849,000	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,188	55,301	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	66.0	449.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,636	2,224	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	9,330	273	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	30.9° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Tied14 countries · 4 lives left

   BurundivsSlovakia

   Flag colours: 3 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Slovakia became contested.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Burundi against Slovakia

   Category	Burundi	Slovakia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	27,830	49,035	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,689,450	5,426,740	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,147	45,865	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	491.9	110.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,685	2,655	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.4° S	48.7° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   UzbekistanvsPoland

   Area: 447,400 vs 312,685 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Poland, Slovakia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uzbekistan against Poland

   Category	Uzbekistan	Poland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	447,400	312,685	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	35,652,307	36,687,353	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,679	48,473	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	79.7	117.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,643	2,499	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	440	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.5° N	51.9° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Lost15 countries · 3 lives left

   BotswanavsMozambique

   Population: 2,480,244 vs 33,635,160 people · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Botswana.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Botswana against Mozambique

   Category	Botswana	Mozambique	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	581,730	799,380	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,480,244	33,635,160	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,029	1,680	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.3	42.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,495	2,436	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,470	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° S	14.0° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Lost14 countries · 2 lives left

   GreecevsSaudi Arabia

   Highest peak: 2,917 vs 3,000 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Greece.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Greece against Saudi Arabia

   Category	Greece	Saudi Arabia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	131,957	2,149,690	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,407,351	33,702,731	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	42,614	71,624	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	78.9	15.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,917	3,000	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	13,676	2,640	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.8° N	23.5° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won15 countries · 2 lives left

   Bosnia and HerzegovinavsMongolia

   Density: 62.2 vs 2.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mongolia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Mongolia

   Category	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Mongolia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,197	1,564,116	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,185,073	3,481,145	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,376	18,020	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	62.2	2.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,386	4,374	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	20	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	44.1° N	46.0° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Lost14 countries · 1 life left

   MalawivsParaguay

   Flag colours: 3 vs 6 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Malawi.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malawi against Paraguay

   Category	Malawi	Paraguay	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	406,752	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	6,844,146	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	17,585	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	178.1	16.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	842	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	21.6° S	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Lost13 countries · 0 lives left

   PortugalvsBrunei

   Wealth per person: 49,800 vs 85,103 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Portugal.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Portugal against Brunei

   Category	Portugal	Brunei	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	5,765	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	458,949	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49,800	85,103	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	79.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	1,850	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	161	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	4.5° N	Would lose