A little knowledge. An empire of 14.

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 1Lost11 countries · 3 lives left

   AzerbaijanvsCentral African Republic

   Flag colours: 4 vs 5 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Azerbaijan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Azerbaijan against Central African Republic

   Category	Azerbaijan	Central African Republic	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	86,600	622,984	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,153,958	5,152,421	Would win
   Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	23,671	1,258	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	8.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,466	1,410	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.5° N	7.0° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won12 countries · 3 lives left

   BhutanvsPapua New Guinea

   Highest peak: 7,570 vs 4,509 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Papua New Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bhutan against Papua New Guinea

   Category	Bhutan	Papua New Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	38,394	462,840	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	786,385	10,389,635	Would lose
   Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,229	4,672	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.5	22.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,570	4,509	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	5,152	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.5° N	5.5° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won13 countries · 3 lives left

   SpainvsVanuatu

   Area: 505,370 vs 12,189 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vanuatu.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Spain against Vanuatu

   Category	Spain	Vanuatu	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	505,370	12,189	Would win
   PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	48,352,528	320,409	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	55,661	4,202	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.7	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,718	1,877	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,964	2,528	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.0° N	15.4° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Lost12 countries · 2 lives left

   GabonvsMyanmar

   Coastline: 885 vs 1,930 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Gabon.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Gabon against Myanmar

   Category	Gabon	Myanmar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	267,667	676,578	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,484,789	54,133,798	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	20,773	5,958	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	9.3	80.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,050	5,870	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	885	1,930	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.6° S	21.6° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won13 countries · 2 lives left

   BruneivsRomania

   Wealth per person: 85,103 vs 45,982 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Romania.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Brunei against Romania

   Category	Brunei	Romania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,765	238,391	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	458,949	19,061,062	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	85,103	45,982	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	79.6	80.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,850	2,544	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	225	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.5° N	45.7° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won14 countries · 2 lives left

   El SalvadorvsUkraine

   Highest peak: 2,730 vs 2,061 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ukraine.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for El Salvador against Ukraine

   Category	El Salvador	Ukraine	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	603,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	37,732,836	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	17,680	Would lose
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	299.9	62.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,730	2,061	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	2,782	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	49.6° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost13 countries · 1 life left

   HaitivsChad

   Highest peak: 2,674 vs 3,445 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Haiti.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Haiti against Chad

   Category	Haiti	Chad	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	27,750	1,284,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,637,398	19,319,064	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,265	2,703	Would win
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	419.4	15.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,674	3,445	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,771	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.2° N	17.3° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won14 countries · 1 life left

   CanadavsBolivia

   Area: 9,984,670 vs 1,098,581 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bolivia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Canada against Bolivia

   Category	Canada	Bolivia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,984,670	1,098,581	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	40,049,088	12,244,159	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	64,962	12,903	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.0	11.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,959	6,542	Would lose
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	202,080	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.8° N	16.7° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won15 countries · 1 life left

   Sierra LeonevsNamibia

   Proximity to equator: 8.7° N vs 20.6° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Namibia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Sierra Leone against Namibia

   Category	Sierra Leone	Namibia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	71,740	824,292	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,460,512	2,963,095	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,371	11,248	Would lose
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	117.9	3.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,948	2,573	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	1,572	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	8.7° N	20.6° S	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost14 countries · 0 lives left

    North MacedoniavsTürkiye

    Density: 71.1 vs 108.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: North Macedonia.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for North Macedonia against Türkiye

    Category	North Macedonia	Türkiye	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	25,713	783,562	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,827,816	85,325,965	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,354	43,196	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	71.1	108.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,764	5,137	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	7,200	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.5° N	39.1° N	Would lose