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Final empireDrag to exploreFollow the journey ↓

Out of lives

A little knowledge. An empire of 29.

29of 174 countries
in the final empire

25 rounds of instinct, surprises, and discovery. This is how the journey unfolded.

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Untimed expedition · Data edition 01051846d672

20Wins
4Losses
1Ties
Explore the final empire · 29 countries
The path through the world

One choice at a time.

25 rounds
Where it began · 12 countries

Papua New Guinea · Albania · Maldives · Venezuela · Palestine · India · Guatemala · Estonia · Ethiopia · Germany · Oman · Ghana

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

    Papua New GuineavsCentral African Republic

    Highest peak: 4,509 vs 1,410 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Central African Republic.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Papua New Guinea against Central African Republic
    CategoryPapua New GuineaCentral African RepublicResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑462,840622,984Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑10,389,6355,152,421Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑4,6721,258Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑22.48.3Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen4,5091,410Would win
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑5,1520Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑45Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓5.5° S7.0° NWould win
  2. 2
    Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

    AlbaniavsNicaragua

    Density: 83.9 vs 52.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Nicaragua.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Albania against Nicaragua
    CategoryAlbaniaNicaraguaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑28,748130,370Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑2,411,6586,823,613Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑24,8488,327Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen83.952.3Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑2,7642,085Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑362910Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑210Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓40.7° N12.6° NWould lose
  3. 3
    Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

    MaldivesvsIraq

    Proximity to equator: 3.3° N vs 33.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Iraq.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Maldives against Iraq
    CategoryMaldivesIraqResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑298438,317Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑525,99445,074,049Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑24,80714,665Would win
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑1,765.1102.8Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑53,611Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑64458Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑34Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen3.3° N33.3° NWould win
  4. 4
    Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

    VenezuelavsItaly

    Area: 912,050 vs 301,340 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Italy.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Venezuela against Italy
    CategoryVenezuelaItalyResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen912,050301,340Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑28,300,85458,984,216Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.Unavailable60,350Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑31.0195.7Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑4,9784,748Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑2,8007,600Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑43Would win
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓7.2° N45.1° NWould win
  5. 5
    Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

    PalestinevsMexico

    Density: 830.5 vs 66.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Mexico.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Palestine against Mexico
    CategoryPalestineMexicoResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑6,2201,964,375Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑5,165,775129,739,759Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑6,17925,188Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen830.566.0Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑1,0205,636Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑409,330Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑411Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓32.1° N23.5° NWould lose
  6. 6
    Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

    IndiavsMongolia

    Density: 437.5 vs 2.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Mongolia.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices
    All eight categories for India against Mongolia
    CategoryIndiaMongoliaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑3,287,2631,564,116Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑1,438,069,5963,481,145Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑9,85318,020Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen437.52.2Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑8,5864,374Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑7,0000Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑43Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓22.4° N46.0° NWould win
  7. 7
    Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

    GuatemalavsNorth Korea

    Area: 108,889 vs 120,538 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Guatemala.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Guatemala against North Korea
    CategoryGuatemalaNorth KoreaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen108,889120,538Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑18,124,83826,418,204Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.13,752UnavailableUnavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑166.5219.2Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑4,2202,744Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑4002,495Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑93Would win
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓15.0° N39.9° NWould win
  8. 8
    Round 8Won18 countries · 3 lives left

    EstoniavsArmenia

    Wealth per person: 48,848 vs 21,552 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Armenia.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Estonia against Armenia
    CategoryEstoniaArmeniaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑45,22829,743Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑1,370,2862,964,300Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen48,84821,552Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑30.399.7Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑3184,090Would lose
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑3,7940Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑33Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓58.6° N40.6° NWould lose
  9. 9
    Round 9Won19 countries · 3 lives left

    EthiopiavsCosta Rica

    Highest peak: 4,550 vs 3,819 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Costa Rica.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Ethiopia against Costa Rica
    CategoryEthiopiaCosta RicaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑1,104,30051,100Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑128,691,6925,105,525Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑3,06329,248Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑116.599.9Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen4,5503,819Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑01,290Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑43Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓8.5° N10.1° NWould win
  10. 10
    Round 10Won20 countries · 3 lives left

    GermanyvsKenya

    Density: 233.3 vs 95.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Kenya.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Germany against Kenya
    CategoryGermanyKenyaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑357,022580,367Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑83,287,27355,339,003Would win
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑72,2626,322Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen233.395.4Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑2,9635,199Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑2,389536Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑34Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓51.0° N0.4° NWould lose
  11. 11
    Round 11Won21 countries · 3 lives left

    OmanvsDjibouti

    Wealth per person: 41,980 vs 7,232 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Djibouti.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Oman against Djibouti
    CategoryOmanDjiboutiResult
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑309,50023,200Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑5,049,2691,152,944Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen41,9807,232Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑16.349.7Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑3,0042,021Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑2,092314Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑34Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓22.1° N11.4° NWould lose
  12. 12
    Round 12Won22 countries · 3 lives left

    GhanavsSouth Korea

    Area: 238,533 vs 99,720 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered South Korea.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Ghana against South Korea
    CategoryGhanaSouth KoreaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen238,53399,720Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑33,787,91451,712,619Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑7,56357,430Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑141.6518.6Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑8851,950Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑5392,413Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑44Would tie
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓7.0° N36.3° NWould win
  13. 13
    Round 13Tied22 countries · 3 lives left

    Papua New GuineavsSuriname

    Flag colours: 4 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Suriname became contested.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Papua New Guinea against Suriname
    CategoryPapua New GuineaSurinameResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑462,840163,820Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑10,389,635628,886Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑4,67221,128Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑22.43.8Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑4,5091,230Would win
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑5,152386Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen44Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓5.5° S4.1° NWould lose
  14. 14
    Round 14Won24 countries · 3 lives left

    Central African RepublicvsSlovenia

    Proximity to equator: 7.0° N vs 46.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Slovenia, Suriname.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Central African Republic against Slovenia
    CategoryCentral African RepublicSloveniaResult
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑622,98420,273Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑5,152,4212,120,461Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑1,25856,151Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑8.3104.6Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑1,4102,864Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑046.6Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑54Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen7.0° N46.0° NWould win
  15. 15
    Round 15Won25 countries · 3 lives left

    AlbaniavsUganda

    Coastline: 362 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Uganda.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Albania against Uganda
    CategoryAlbaniaUgandaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑28,748241,038Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑2,411,65848,656,601Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑24,8483,100Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑83.9201.9Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑2,7645,110Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen3620Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑25Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓40.7° N2.0° NWould lose
  16. 16
    Round 16Won26 countries · 3 lives left

    NicaraguavsUnited States

    Flag colours: 10 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered United States.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Nicaragua against United States
    CategoryNicaraguaUnited StatesResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑130,3709,833,517Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑6,823,613336,755,052Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑8,32782,587Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑52.334.2Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑2,0856,190Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑91019,924Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen103Would win
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓12.6° N39.1° NWould win
  17. 17
    Round 17Lost25 countries · 2 lives left

    MaldivesvsEcuador

    Flag colours: 3 vs 11 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Maldives.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Maldives against Ecuador
    CategoryMaldivesEcuadorResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑298283,561Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑525,99417,980,083Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑24,80715,907Would win
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑1,765.163.4Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑56,267Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑6442,237Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen311Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓3.3° N1.2° SWould lose
  18. 18
    Round 18Won26 countries · 2 lives left

    IraqvsIreland

    Area: 438,317 vs 70,273 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Ireland.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Iraq against Ireland
    CategoryIraqIrelandResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen438,31770,273Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑45,074,0495,311,538Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑14,665133,440Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑102.875.6Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑3,6111,041Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑581,448Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑43Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓33.3° N53.1° NWould win
  19. 19
    Round 19Lost25 countries · 1 life left

    VenezuelavsMadagascar

    Density: 31.0 vs 53.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Venezuela.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Venezuela against Madagascar
    CategoryVenezuelaMadagascarResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑912,050587,041Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑28,300,85431,195,932Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.Unavailable1,810Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen31.053.1Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑4,9782,876Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑2,8004,828Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑43Would win
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓7.2° N18.4° SWould win
  20. 20
    Round 20Won26 countries · 1 life left

    ItalyvsSingapore

    Population: 58,984,216 vs 5,917,648 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Singapore.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Italy against Singapore
    CategoryItalySingaporeResult
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑301,340719Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen58,984,2165,917,648Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑60,350144,728Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑195.78,230.4Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑4,748166Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑7,600193Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑32Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓45.1° N1.4° NWould lose

There’s another world in you.