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

   MalawivsZimbabwe

   Proximity to equator: 13.4° S vs 19.0° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Zimbabwe.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malawi against Zimbabwe

   Category	Malawi	Zimbabwe	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	390,757	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	16,340,822	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	5,796	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	178.1	41.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	2,592	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	13.4° S	19.0° S	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   AustriavsSouth Africa

   Wealth per person: 74,261 vs 15,212 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Africa.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Austria against South Africa

   Category	Austria	South Africa	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,871	1,219,090	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,131,761	63,212,384	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	74,261	15,212	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	51.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,798	3,450	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,798	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.7° N	30.2° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   Timor-LestevsDenmark

   Highest peak: 2,963 vs 171 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Denmark.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Timor-Leste against Denmark

   Category	Timor-Leste	Denmark	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	14,874	43,094	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,384,286	5,946,952	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,811	77,425	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	93.1	138.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,963	171	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	706	7,314	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.9° S	55.9° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   Republic of the CongovsAlbania

   Population: 6,182,885 vs 2,411,658 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Albania.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Republic of the Congo against Albania

   Category	Republic of the Congo	Albania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	342,000	28,748	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6,182,885	2,411,658	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,856	24,848	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	18.1	83.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	2,764	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	169	362	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.1° N	40.7° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   MauritaniavsCambodia

   Coastline: 754 vs 443 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cambodia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Mauritania against Cambodia

   Category	Mauritania	Cambodia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,030,700	181,035	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,022,441	17,423,880	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,972	7,437	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.9	96.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	915	1,810	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	754	443	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.4° N	12.6° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   MaldivesvsGhana

   Coastline: 644 vs 539 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ghana.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Maldives against Ghana

   Category	Maldives	Ghana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	238,533	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	33,787,914	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,807	7,563	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,765.1	141.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	885	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	644	539	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.3° N	7.0° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   SurinamevsOman

   Area: 163,820 vs 309,500 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Suriname.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Suriname against Oman

   Category	Suriname	Oman	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	163,820	309,500	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	628,886	5,049,269	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,128	41,980	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	16.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,230	3,004	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	2,092	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.1° N	22.1° N	Would win