A little knowledge. An empire of 13.

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

   Central African RepublicvsBosnia and Herzegovina

   Proximity to equator: 7.0° N vs 44.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Bosnia and Herzegovina.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Central African Republic against Bosnia and Herzegovina

   Category	Central African Republic	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	622,984	51,197	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,152,421	3,185,073	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,258	23,376	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.3	62.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,410	2,386	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	20	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.0° N	44.1° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   KazakhstanvsBrazil

   Wealth per person: 38,547 vs 21,193 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Brazil.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Kazakhstan against Brazil

   Category	Kazakhstan	Brazil	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,724,900	8,515,770	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	20,330,104	211,140,729	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	38,547	21,193	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	7.5	24.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,010	2,994	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	7,491	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.5° N	12.6° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   ColombiavsNew Zealand

   Density: 45.9 vs 19.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered New Zealand.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Colombia against New Zealand

   Category	Colombia	New Zealand	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,138,910	268,838	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	52,321,152	5,200,000	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,282	54,950	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45.9	19.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,730	3,724	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,208	15,134	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.4° N	45.3° S	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Lost14 countries · 3 lives left

   EswatinivsSouth Sudan

   Highest peak: 1,862 vs 3,187 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Eswatini.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Eswatini against South Sudan

   Category	Eswatini	South Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,364	644,329	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,230,506	11,483,374	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	11,309	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	70.9	17.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,862	3,187	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	6	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.6° S	7.1° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Lost13 countries · 2 lives left

   South AfricavsBrunei

   Density: 51.9 vs 79.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: South Africa.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Africa against Brunei

   Category	South Africa	Brunei	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,219,090	5,765	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	63,212,384	458,949	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,212	85,103	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	51.9	79.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,450	1,850	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,798	161	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.2° S	4.5° N	Would lose