A little knowledge. An empire of 24.

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

   LuxembourgvsHungary

   Density: 257.7 vs 103.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Hungary.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Luxembourg against Hungary

   Category	Luxembourg	Hungary	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,586	93,028	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	666,430	9,592,186	Would lose
   Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	152,596	46,376	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	257.7	103.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	559	1,014	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.7° N	47.3° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   SpainvsGermany

   Coastline: 4,964 vs 2,389 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Germany.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Spain against Germany

   Category	Spain	Germany	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	505,370	357,022	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	48,352,528	83,287,273	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	55,661	72,262	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.7	233.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,718	2,963	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,964	2,389	Would win
   Flag coloursBlocked in Hard · colours · Higher wins ↑	10	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.0° N	51.0° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   EritreavsGambia

   Highest peak: 3,018 vs 63 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Gambia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Eritrea against Gambia

   Category	Eritrea	Gambia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	117,600	11,300	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,470,390	2,697,845	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	Unavailable	3,292	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.5	238.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,018	63	Would win
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	2,234	80	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	16.0° N	13.6° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   GuineavsJordan

   Proximity to equator: 10.7° N vs 30.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Jordan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea against Jordan

   Category	Guinea	Jordan	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	89,342	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	11,439,213	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	11,451	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	128.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	1,854	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	320	26	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.7° N	30.7° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Lost15 countries · 3 lives left

   PalestinevsBotswana

   Wealth per person: 6,179 vs 21,029 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Palestine.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Palestine against Botswana

   Category	Palestine	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	6,220	581,730	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,165,775	2,480,244	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6,179	21,029	Would lose
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	830.5	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	1,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	40	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	22.1° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won16 countries · 3 lives left

   KuwaitvsSingapore

   Flag colours: 4 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Singapore.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kuwait against Singapore

   Category	Kuwait	Singapore	Result
   AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	17,818	719	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	4,853,420	5,917,648	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	53,083	144,728	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	272.4	8,230.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	300	166	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	499	193	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° N	1.4° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won17 countries · 3 lives left

   SwedenvsKenya

   Coastline: 3,218 vs 536 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kenya.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sweden against Kenya

   Category	Sweden	Kenya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	450,295	580,367	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,536,632	55,339,003	Would lose
   Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	68,458	6,322	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	23.4	95.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,100	5,199	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,218	536	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	65.8° N	0.4° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost16 countries · 2 lives left

   ZimbabwevsSudan

   Area: 390,757 vs 1,861,484 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Zimbabwe.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Zimbabwe against Sudan

   Category	Zimbabwe	Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	390,757	1,861,484	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	16,340,822	50,042,791	Would lose
   Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,796	2,423	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	41.8	26.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,592	3,042	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	853	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.0° S	16.6° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won17 countries · 2 lives left

   ZambiavsMalaysia

   Area: 752,618 vs 329,847 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Malaysia.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Zambia against Malaysia

   Category	Zambia	Malaysia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	752,618	329,847	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	20,723,965	35,126,298	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,080	36,497	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.5	106.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,330	4,095	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,675	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° S	4.4° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won18 countries · 2 lives left

    United Arab EmiratesvsRwanda

    Coastline: 1,318 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Rwanda.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for United Arab Emirates against Rwanda

    Category	United Arab Emirates	Rwanda	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,600	26,338	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,483,751	13,954,471	Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	78,020	3,519	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.4	529.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,905	4,519	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,318	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	1.8° S	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Lost17 countries · 1 life left

    IrelandvsCambodia

    Density: 75.6 vs 96.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Ireland.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Ireland against Cambodia

    Category	Ireland	Cambodia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	70,273	181,035	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,311,538	17,423,880	Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	133,440	7,437	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	75.6	96.2	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,041	1,810	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,448	443	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	53.1° N	12.6° N	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Won18 countries · 1 life left

    IsraelvsTanzania

    Density: 449.0 vs 70.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Tanzania.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Israel against Tanzania

    Category	Israel	Tanzania	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,937	947,300	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,849,000	66,617,606	Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	55,301	4,022	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	449.0	70.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,224	5,895	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	273	1,424	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.9° N	5.5° S	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Won19 countries · 1 life left

    LuxembourgvsHaiti

    Wealth per person: 152,596 vs 3,265 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Haiti.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Luxembourg against Haiti

    Category	Luxembourg	Haiti	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,586	27,750	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	666,430	11,637,398	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	152,596	3,265	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	257.7	419.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	559	2,674	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,771	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	7	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.7° N	19.2° N	Would lose

14. 14
    Round 14Won20 countries · 1 life left

    HungaryvsEthiopia

    Wealth per person: 46,376 vs 3,063 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Ethiopia.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Hungary against Ethiopia

    Category	Hungary	Ethiopia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	93,028	1,104,300	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,592,186	128,691,692	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	46,376	3,063	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	103.1	116.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,014	4,550	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.3° N	8.5° N	Would lose

15. 15
    Round 15Won21 countries · 1 life left

    SpainvsSri Lanka

    Population: 48,352,528 vs 22,037,000 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Sri Lanka.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Spain against Sri Lanka

    Category	Spain	Sri Lanka	Result
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑	505,370	65,610	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,352,528	22,037,000	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	55,661	14,512	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.7	335.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,718	2,524	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,964	1,340	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	5	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.0° N	7.1° N	Would lose

16. 16
    Round 16Won22 countries · 1 life left

    GermanyvsTrinidad and Tobago

    Area: 357,022 vs 5,128 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Trinidad and Tobago.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Germany against Trinidad and Tobago

    Category	Germany	Trinidad and Tobago	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	357,022	5,128	Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	83,287,273	1,367,510	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,262	34,652	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	233.3	266.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	940	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,389	362	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.0° N	10.3° N	Would lose

17. 17
    Round 17Won23 countries · 1 life left

    EritreavsLesotho

    Area: 117,600 vs 30,355 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Lesotho.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Eritrea against Lesotho

    Category	Eritrea	Lesotho	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	117,600	30,355	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,470,390	2,311,472	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	Unavailable	2,880	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.5	76.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,018	3,482	Would lose
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	2,234	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	16.0° N	29.4° S	Would win

18. 18
    Round 18Won24 countries · 1 life left

    GambiavsTürkiye

    Flag colours: 4 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Türkiye.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Gambia against Türkiye

    Category	Gambia	Türkiye	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,300	783,562	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,697,845	85,325,965	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,292	43,196	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	238.7	108.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	63	5,137	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	80	7,200	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.6° N	39.1° N	Would win

19. 19
    Round 19Won25 countries · 1 life left

    GuineavsBurkina Faso

    Proximity to equator: 10.7° N vs 12.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Burkina Faso.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guinea against Burkina Faso

    Category	Guinea	Burkina Faso	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	274,200	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	23,025,776	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	2,762	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	84.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	749	Would win
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	320	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.7° N	12.8° N	Would win

20. 20
    Round 20Lost24 countries · 0 lives left

    JordanvsNigeria

    Density: 128.0 vs 246.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Jordan.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Jordan against Nigeria

    Category	Jordan	Nigeria	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	89,342	923,768	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	227,882,945	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	8,712	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	128.0	246.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,854	2,419	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	26	853	Would lose
    Flag coloursBlocked in Hard · colours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.7° N	9.4° N	Would lose