A little knowledge. An empire of 15.

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

   PortugalvsVietnam

   Wealth per person: 49,800 vs 15,034 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vietnam.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Portugal against Vietnam

   Category	Portugal	Vietnam	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	331,210	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	100,352,192	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49,800	15,034	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	303.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	3,144	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	3,444	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	21.7° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   MexicovsCameroon

   Population: 129,739,759 vs 28,372,687 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cameroon.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mexico against Cameroon

   Category	Mexico	Cameroon	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,964,375	475,440	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129,739,759	28,372,687	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,188	5,415	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	66.0	59.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,636	4,045	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	9,330	402	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	4.5° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   BahrainvsSouth Sudan

   Density: 2,075.1 vs 17.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Bahrain against South Sudan

   Category	Bahrain	South Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	760	644,329	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,577,059	11,483,374	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	64,224	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,075.1	17.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	135	3,187	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.0° N	7.1° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   EcuadorvsKuwait

   Proximity to equator: 1.2° S vs 29.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ecuador against Kuwait

   Category	Ecuador	Kuwait	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	283,561	17,818	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,980,083	4,853,420	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,907	53,083	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	63.4	272.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,267	300	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,237	499	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.2° S	29.4° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Lost15 countries · 3 lives left

   LesothovsHaiti

   Wealth per person: 2,880 vs 3,265 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Lesotho.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Lesotho against Haiti

   Category	Lesotho	Haiti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,355	27,750	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,311,472	11,637,398	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,880	3,265	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	76.1	419.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,482	2,674	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,771	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	7	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° S	19.2° N	Would lose