A little knowledge. An empire of 20.

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

   MoldovavsBangladesh

   Wealth per person: 17,751 vs 9,155 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bangladesh.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Moldova against Bangladesh

   Category	Moldova	Bangladesh	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	33,851	148,460	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,457,783	171,466,990	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	17,751	9,155	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	72.6	1,155.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	430	1,060	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	580	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.5° N	24.3° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   PhilippinesvsGreece

   Population: 114,891,199 vs 10,407,351 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Greece.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Philippines against Greece

   Category	Philippines	Greece	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	300,000	131,957	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	114,891,199	10,407,351	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,995	42,614	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	383.0	78.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,954	2,917	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	36,289	13,676	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.0° N	39.8° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   SyriavsEquatorial Guinea

   Population: 23,594,623 vs 1,847,549 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Equatorial Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Syria against Equatorial Guinea

   Category	Syria	Equatorial Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	187,437	28,051	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	23,594,623	1,847,549	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	16,997	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.9	65.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,814	3,008	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	296	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	8	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.0° N	1.6° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   BelizevsUnited Kingdom

   Proximity to equator: 17.0° N vs 52.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered United Kingdom.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Belize against United Kingdom

   Category	Belize	United Kingdom	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	22,966	243,610	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	411,106	68,526,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,741	60,787	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.9	281.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,124	1,345	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	12,429	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	12	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	17.0° N	52.5° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   BahamasvsMadagascar

   Wealth per person: 39,122 vs 1,810 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Madagascar.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahamas against Madagascar

   Category	Bahamas	Madagascar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	587,041	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	31,195,932	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	39,122	1,810	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	53.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	2,876	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,542	4,828	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	18.4° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   GeorgiavsLuxembourg

   Highest peak: 5,193 vs 559 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Luxembourg.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Georgia against Luxembourg

   Category	Georgia	Luxembourg	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	69,700	2,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,715,483	666,430	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,093	152,596	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	53.3	257.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,193	559	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	310	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.4° N	49.7° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   ArgentinavsSouth Africa

   Area: 2,780,400 vs 1,219,090 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Africa.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Argentina against South Africa

   Category	Argentina	South Africa	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,780,400	1,219,090	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	45,538,401	63,212,384	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	30,246	15,212	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.4	51.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,962	3,450	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,989	2,798	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	31.4° S	30.2° S	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   El SalvadorvsNigeria

   Density: 299.9 vs 246.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nigeria.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for El Salvador against Nigeria

   Category	El Salvador	Nigeria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	923,768	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	227,882,945	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	8,712	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	299.9	246.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	2,419	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	853	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	9.4° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   EthiopiavsNamibia

   Population: 128,691,692 vs 2,963,095 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Namibia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ethiopia against Namibia

   Category	Ethiopia	Namibia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,104,300	824,292	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	128,691,692	2,963,095	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,063	11,248	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	116.5	3.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,550	2,573	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,572	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.5° N	20.6° S	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    EstoniavsUnited Arab Emirates

    Density: 30.3 vs 125.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Estonia.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Estonia against United Arab Emirates

    Category	Estonia	United Arab Emirates	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	83,600	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	10,483,751	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	48,848	78,020	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	30.3	125.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	1,905	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,794	1,318	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	23.5° N	Would lose