A little knowledge. An empire of 17.

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

   Bosnia and HerzegovinavsGermany

   Proximity to equator: 44.1° N vs 51.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Germany.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Germany

   Category	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Germany	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,197	357,022	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,185,073	83,287,273	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,376	72,262	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	62.2	233.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,386	2,963	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	20	2,389	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	44.1° N	51.0° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Lost12 countries · 3 lives left

   SyriavsLaos

   Highest peak: 2,814 vs 2,817 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Syria.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Syria against Laos

   Category	Syria	Laos	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	187,437	236,800	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,594,623	7,664,993	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	9,299	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.9	32.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,814	2,817	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.0° N	19.6° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won13 countries · 3 lives left

   NamibiavsThailand

   Area: 824,292 vs 513,120 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Thailand.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Namibia against Thailand

   Category	Namibia	Thailand	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	824,292	513,120	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,963,095	71,702,435	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,248	23,598	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.6	139.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,573	2,565	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,572	3,219	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° S	15.5° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won14 countries · 3 lives left

   SurinamevsMorocco

   Wealth per person: 21,128 vs 9,903 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Morocco.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Suriname against Morocco

   Category	Suriname	Morocco	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,820	446,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	628,886	37,712,505	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	21,128	9,903	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	84.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,230	4,165	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	1,835	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.1° N	31.9° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won15 countries · 3 lives left

   SlovakiavsSpain

   Density: 110.7 vs 95.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Spain.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Slovakia against Spain

   Category	Slovakia	Spain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	49,035	505,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,426,740	48,352,528	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	45,865	55,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	110.7	95.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,655	3,718	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,964	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.7° N	40.0° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won16 countries · 3 lives left

   PanamavsCzechia

   Coastline: 2,490 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Czechia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Panama against Czechia

   Category	Panama	Czechia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	75,420	78,867	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	4,458,759	10,864,042	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	39,846	56,062	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.1	137.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,475	1,602	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,490	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.4° N	49.8° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won17 countries · 3 lives left

   El SalvadorvsIraq

   Density: 299.9 vs 102.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Iraq.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for El Salvador against Iraq

   Category	El Salvador	Iraq	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	438,317	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	45,074,049	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	14,665	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	299.9	102.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	3,611	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	58	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	33.3° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won18 countries · 3 lives left

   BahamasvsComoros

   Wealth per person: 39,122 vs 3,897 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Comoros.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahamas against Comoros

   Category	Bahamas	Comoros	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	2,235	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	850,387	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	39,122	3,897	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	380.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	2,360	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,542	340	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	11.7° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Lost17 countries · 2 lives left

   Solomon IslandsvsCroatia

   Coastline: 5,313 vs 5,835 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Solomon Islands.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Solomon Islands against Croatia

   Category	Solomon Islands	Croatia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,896	56,594	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	800,005	3,859,686	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,599	47,760	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.7	68.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,335	1,831	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,313	5,835	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	9.6° S	45.8° N	Would win