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

   ArmeniavsBurkina Faso

   Highest peak: 4,090 vs 749 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Burkina Faso.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Armenia against Burkina Faso

   Category	Armenia	Burkina Faso	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	29,743	274,200	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,964,300	23,025,776	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,552	2,762	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.7	84.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,090	749	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.6° N	12.8° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   AngolavsLebanon

   Area: 1,246,700 vs 10,400 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lebanon.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Angola against Lebanon

   Category	Angola	Lebanon	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,246,700	10,400	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	36,749,906	5,773,493	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,550	12,585	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.5	555.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,620	3,088	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,600	225	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.2° S	34.2° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   TajikistanvsAlbania

   Area: 144,100 vs 28,748 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Albania.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Tajikistan against Albania

   Category	Tajikistan	Albania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	144,100	28,748	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,389,799	2,411,658	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,968	24,848	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	72.1	83.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,495	2,764	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	362	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	38.3° N	40.7° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   GabonvsMorocco

   Proximity to equator: 0.6° S vs 31.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Morocco.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Gabon against Morocco

   Category	Gabon	Morocco	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	267,667	446,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,484,789	37,712,505	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	20,773	9,903	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	9.3	84.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,050	4,165	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	885	1,835	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	0.6° S	31.9° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   JordanvsSpain

   Proximity to equator: 30.7° N vs 40.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Spain.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Jordan against Spain

   Category	Jordan	Spain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	89,342	505,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	48,352,528	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	55,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	128.0	95.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,854	3,718	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	26	4,964	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	30.7° N	40.0° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   MauritaniavsSaudi Arabia

   Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Saudi Arabia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Mauritania against Saudi Arabia

   Category	Mauritania	Saudi Arabia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,030,700	2,149,690	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,022,441	33,702,731	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,972	71,624	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.9	15.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	915	3,000	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	754	2,640	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.4° N	23.5° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   Cabo VerdevsIreland

   Proximity to equator: 15.0° N vs 53.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Ireland.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cabo Verde against Ireland

   Category	Cabo Verde	Ireland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	4,033	70,273	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	522,331	5,311,538	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,251	133,440	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	129.5	75.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,829	1,041	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	965	1,448	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.0° N	53.1° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   ZimbabwevsMadagascar

   Highest peak: 2,592 vs 2,876 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Zimbabwe.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Zimbabwe against Madagascar

   Category	Zimbabwe	Madagascar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	390,757	587,041	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	16,340,822	31,195,932	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,796	1,810	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	41.8	53.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,592	2,876	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,828	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.0° S	18.4° S	Would lose