A little knowledge. An empire of 22.

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

   MadagascarvsIndia

   Proximity to equator: 18.4° S vs 22.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered India.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Madagascar against India

   Category	Madagascar	India	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	587,041	3,287,263	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,195,932	1,438,069,596	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,810	9,853	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	53.1	437.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,876	8,586	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,828	7,000	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	18.4° S	22.4° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   NetherlandsvsSuriname

   Wealth per person: 80,392 vs 21,128 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Suriname.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Netherlands against Suriname

   Category	Netherlands	Suriname	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	41,543	163,820	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,877,117	628,886	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	80,392	21,128	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	430.3	3.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	322	1,230	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	451	386	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	52.2° N	4.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   GabonvsChile

   Proximity to equator: 0.6° S vs 23.4° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Chile.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Gabon against Chile

   Category	Gabon	Chile	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	267,667	756,102	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,484,789	19,658,835	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	20,773	33,174	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	9.3	26.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,050	6,893	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	885	6,435	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	0.6° S	23.4° S	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   South SudanvsGreece

   Proximity to equator: 7.1° N vs 39.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Greece.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Sudan against Greece

   Category	South Sudan	Greece	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	644,329	131,957	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,483,374	10,407,351	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	Unavailable	42,614	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.8	78.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,187	2,917	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	13,676	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.1° N	39.8° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   CameroonvsYemen

   Proximity to equator: 4.5° N vs 15.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Yemen.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Cameroon against Yemen

   Category	Cameroon	Yemen	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	475,440	527,968	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,372,687	39,390,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	5,415	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.7	74.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,045	3,666	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	1,906	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	4.5° N	15.3° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   SyriavsUnited Arab Emirates

   Area: 187,437 vs 83,600 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered United Arab Emirates.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Syria against United Arab Emirates

   Category	Syria	United Arab Emirates	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	187,437	83,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,594,623	10,483,751	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	78,020	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.9	125.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,814	1,905	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	1,318	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.0° N	23.5° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   UgandavsEstonia

   Population: 48,656,601 vs 1,370,286 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uganda against Estonia

   Category	Uganda	Estonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	241,038	45,228	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,656,601	1,370,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,100	48,848	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	201.9	30.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,110	318	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,794	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.0° N	58.6° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   CroatiavsTanzania

   Wealth per person: 47,760 vs 4,022 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tanzania.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Croatia against Tanzania

   Category	Croatia	Tanzania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,594	947,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,859,686	66,617,606	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	47,760	4,022	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	68.2	70.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,831	5,895	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	5,835	1,424	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.8° N	5.5° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   TogovsHaiti

   Proximity to equator: 8.9° N vs 19.2° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Haiti.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Togo against Haiti

   Category	Togo	Haiti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,785	27,750	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,223,850	11,637,398	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,572	3,265	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	144.8	419.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	986	2,674	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	56	1,771	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	7	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	8.9° N	19.2° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    AlbaniavsBahamas

    Population: 2,411,658 vs 399,440 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Bahamas.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Albania against Bahamas

    Category	Albania	Bahamas	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,748	13,880	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,411,658	399,440	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,848	39,122	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	83.9	28.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,764	64	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	3,542	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	24.7° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    GeorgiavsBelize

    Highest peak: 5,193 vs 1,124 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Belize.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Georgia against Belize

    Category	Georgia	Belize	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	69,700	22,966	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,715,483	411,106	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,093	13,741	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	53.3	17.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,193	1,124	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	310	386	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	12	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.4° N	17.0° N	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Lost22 countries · 3 lives left

    BotswanavsCôte d’Ivoire

    Highest peak: 1,495 vs 1,752 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Botswana.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Botswana against Côte d’Ivoire

    Category	Botswana	Côte d’Ivoire	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	581,730	322,463	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,480,244	31,165,654	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,029	7,243	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.3	96.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,495	1,752	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	515	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° S	7.5° N	Would lose