A little knowledge. An empire of 19.

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

   AustriavsCuba

   Highest peak: 3,798 vs 1,974 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cuba.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Austria against Cuba

   Category	Austria	Cuba	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,871	110,860	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,131,761	11,019,931	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	74,261	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	99.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,798	1,974	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,735	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.7° N	20.6° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Sri LankavsSpain

   Proximity to equator: 7.1° N vs 40.0° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Spain.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Sri Lanka against Spain

   Category	Sri Lanka	Spain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	65,610	505,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	22,037,000	48,352,528	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,512	55,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	335.9	95.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,524	3,718	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,340	4,964	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.1° N	40.0° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   FrancevsLesotho

   Population: 65,925,961 vs 2,311,472 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lesotho.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for France against Lesotho

   Category	France	Lesotho	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	551,500	30,355	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	65,925,961	2,311,472	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,927	2,880	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	119.5	76.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,810	3,482	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,427	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	29.4° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   TurkmenistanvsTanzania

   Wealth per person: 19,645 vs 4,022 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tanzania.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Turkmenistan against Tanzania

   Category	Turkmenistan	Tanzania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	488,100	947,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,364,438	66,617,606	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	19,645	4,022	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.1	70.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,139	5,895	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,424	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	5.5° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   UkrainevsVietnam

   Wealth per person: 17,680 vs 15,034 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vietnam.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Ukraine against Vietnam

   Category	Ukraine	Vietnam	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	603,550	331,210	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	37,732,836	100,352,192	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	17,680	15,034	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	62.5	303.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,061	3,144	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,782	3,444	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.6° N	21.7° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   ZambiavsBhutan

   Population: 20,723,965 vs 786,385 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bhutan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Zambia against Bhutan

   Category	Zambia	Bhutan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	752,618	38,394	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	20,723,965	786,385	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,080	16,229	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.5	20.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,330	7,570	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° S	27.5° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   GermanyvsPhilippines

   Wealth per person: 72,262 vs 10,995 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Philippines.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Germany against Philippines

   Category	Germany	Philippines	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	357,022	300,000	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	83,287,273	114,891,199	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	72,262	10,995	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	233.3	383.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	2,954	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,389	36,289	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.0° N	17.0° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   EgyptvsSlovakia

   Population: 114,535,772 vs 5,426,740 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Slovakia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Egypt against Slovakia

   Category	Egypt	Slovakia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,001,450	49,035	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	114,535,772	5,426,740	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,540	45,865	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.4	110.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,629	2,655	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,450	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.3° N	48.7° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Lost19 countries · 3 lives left

   SenegalvsJordan

   Density: 91.9 vs 128.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Senegal.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Senegal against Jordan

   Category	Senegal	Jordan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	196,722	89,342	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,077,573	11,439,213	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,782	11,451	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	91.9	128.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	648	1,854	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	531	26	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.2° N	30.7° N	Would win