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

   RwandavsIceland

   Density: 529.8 vs 3.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Iceland.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Rwanda against Iceland

   Category	Rwanda	Iceland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	26,338	103,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,954,471	385,663	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,519	82,257	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	529.8	3.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,519	2,110	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,970	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.8° S	64.7° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Trinidad and TobagovsCentral African Republic

   Density: 266.7 vs 8.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Central African Republic.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Trinidad and Tobago against Central African Republic

   Category	Trinidad and Tobago	Central African Republic	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,128	622,984	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,367,510	5,152,421	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	34,652	1,258	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	266.7	8.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	940	1,410	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.3° N	7.0° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   ColombiavsSouth Sudan

   Population: 52,321,152 vs 11,483,374 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Colombia against South Sudan

   Category	Colombia	South Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,138,910	644,329	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	52,321,152	11,483,374	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	21,282	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.9	17.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,730	3,187	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,208	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.4° N	7.1° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   GhanavsAlgeria

   Density: 141.6 vs 19.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Algeria.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ghana against Algeria

   Category	Ghana	Algeria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	238,533	2,381,740	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	33,787,914	46,164,219	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,563	16,838	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	141.6	19.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	885	2,908	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	539	998	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	27.4° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   El SalvadorvsGermany

   Proximity to equator: 13.9° N vs 51.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Germany.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for El Salvador against Germany

   Category	El Salvador	Germany	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	357,022	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	83,287,273	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	72,262	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	299.9	233.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	2,963	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	2,389	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	13.9° N	51.0° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   KyrgyzstanvsMexico

   Highest peak: 7,439 vs 5,636 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mexico.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kyrgyzstan against Mexico

   Category	Kyrgyzstan	Mexico	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	199,951	1,964,375	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,099,750	129,739,759	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,304	25,188	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	35.5	66.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,439	5,636	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	9,330	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	11	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.7° N	23.5° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   KuwaitvsBolivia

   Wealth per person: 53,083 vs 12,903 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bolivia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kuwait against Bolivia

   Category	Kuwait	Bolivia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,818	1,098,581	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	4,853,420	12,244,159	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	53,083	12,903	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	272.4	11.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	300	6,542	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	499	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° N	16.7° S	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   EstoniavsGuyana

   Wealth per person: 48,848 vs 54,774 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Estonia against Guyana

   Category	Estonia	Guyana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	214,969	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	826,353	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,848	54,774	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	30.3	3.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	2,775	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,794	459	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	2.7° N	Would lose