A little knowledge. An empire of 12.

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

   JapanvsCôte d’Ivoire

   Highest peak: 3,776 vs 1,752 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Côte d’Ivoire.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Japan against Côte d’Ivoire

   Category	Japan	Côte d’Ivoire	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	377,915	322,463	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	124,516,650	31,165,654	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	52,726	7,243	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	329.5	96.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,776	1,752	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	29,751	515	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	36.7° N	7.5° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   FinlandvsIsrael

   Coastline: 1,250 vs 273 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Israel.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Finland against Israel

   Category	Finland	Israel	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	338,145	21,937	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,583,911	9,849,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	63,467	55,301	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.5	449.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,328	2,224	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,250	273	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.3° N	30.9° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Lost13 countries · 3 lives left

   RwandavsLatvia

   Area: 26,338 vs 64,589 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Rwanda.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Rwanda against Latvia

   Category	Rwanda	Latvia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	26,338	64,589	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,954,471	1,883,710	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,519	42,784	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	529.8	29.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,519	312	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	498	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.8° S	56.6° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won14 countries · 3 lives left

   FijivsNorth Korea

   Proximity to equator: 17.8° S vs 39.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered North Korea.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Fiji against North Korea

   Category	Fiji	North Korea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	18,274	120,538	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	924,145	26,418,204	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	14,656	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	50.6	219.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,324	2,744	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,129	2,495	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	17.8° S	39.9° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won15 countries · 3 lives left

   GuatemalavsJordan

   Flag colours: 9 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Jordan.

   Other category comparisons 7 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guatemala against Jordan

   Category	Guatemala	Jordan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	108,889	89,342	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,124,838	11,439,213	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,752	11,451	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	166.5	128.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,220	1,854	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	400	26	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.0° N	30.7° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Lost14 countries · 2 lives left

   AfghanistanvsPortugal

   Flag colours: 5 vs 6 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Afghanistan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Afghanistan against Portugal

   Category	Afghanistan	Portugal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	652,230	92,090	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	41,454,761	10,578,174	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,204	49,800	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	63.6	114.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,492	2,351	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,793	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.3° N	40.7° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost13 countries · 1 life left

   MyanmarvsKenya

   Population: 54,133,798 vs 55,339,003 people · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Myanmar.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Myanmar against Kenya

   Category	Myanmar	Kenya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	676,578	580,367	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	54,133,798	55,339,003	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,958	6,322	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	80.0	95.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,870	5,199	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,930	536	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.6° N	0.4° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost12 countries · 0 lives left

   BurundivsUganda

   Population: 13,689,450 vs 48,656,601 people · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Burundi.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Burundi against Uganda

   Category	Burundi	Uganda	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	27,830	241,038	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,689,450	48,656,601	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,147	3,100	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	491.9	201.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,685	5,110	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.4° S	2.0° N	Would lose