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

   AustriavsNorth Macedonia

   Wealth per person: 74,261 vs 25,354 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered North Macedonia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Austria against North Macedonia

   Category	Austria	North Macedonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,871	25,713	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,131,761	1,827,816	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	74,261	25,354	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	71.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,798	2,764	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.7° N	41.5° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   IsraelvsPeru

   Wealth per person: 55,301 vs 17,042 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Peru.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Israel against Peru

   Category	Israel	Peru	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,937	1,285,216	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,849,000	33,845,617	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	55,301	17,042	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	449.0	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,224	6,746	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	273	2,414	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.9° N	13.0° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   HaitivsTimor-Leste

   Area: 27,750 vs 14,874 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Timor-Leste.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Haiti against Timor-Leste

   Category	Haiti	Timor-Leste	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	27,750	14,874	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,637,398	1,384,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,265	4,811	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	419.4	93.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,674	2,963	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,771	706	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.2° N	8.9° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   PolandvsSierra Leone

   Area: 312,685 vs 71,740 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Sierra Leone.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Poland against Sierra Leone

   Category	Poland	Sierra Leone	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	312,685	71,740	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	36,687,353	8,460,512	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	48,473	3,371	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	117.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,499	1,948	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	440	402	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.9° N	8.7° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   GuatemalavsSerbia

   Proximity to equator: 15.0° N vs 44.2° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Serbia.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guatemala against Serbia

   Category	Guatemala	Serbia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	108,889	77,474	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,124,838	6,623,183	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,752	29,777	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	166.5	85.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,220	2,169	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	400	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	5	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.0° N	44.2° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   United StatesvsKuwait

   Area: 9,833,517 vs 17,818 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United States against Kuwait

   Category	United States	Kuwait	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,833,517	17,818	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	336,755,052	4,853,420	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	82,587	53,083	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	34.2	272.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,190	300	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	19,924	499	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.1° N	29.4° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   South KoreavsBelgium

   Proximity to equator: 36.3° N vs 50.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Belgium.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Korea against Belgium

   Category	South Korea	Belgium	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	99,720	30,528	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	51,712,619	11,779,946	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	57,430	72,630	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	518.6	385.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,950	694	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,413	66.5	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	36.3° N	50.8° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   PalestinevsSri Lanka

   Flag colours: 4 vs 5 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Palestine.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Palestine against Sri Lanka

   Category	Palestine	Sri Lanka	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	6,220	65,610	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,165,775	22,037,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,179	14,512	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	830.5	335.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	2,524	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	40	1,340	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	7.1° N	Would lose