A little knowledge. An empire of 16.

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

   MauritaniavsLatvia

   Proximity to equator: 19.4° N vs 56.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Latvia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mauritania against Latvia

   Category	Mauritania	Latvia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,030,700	64,589	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,022,441	1,883,710	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,972	42,784	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.9	29.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	915	312	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	754	498	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	19.4° N	56.6° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   TogovsCzechia

   Coastline: 56 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Czechia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Togo against Czechia

   Category	Togo	Czechia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,785	78,867	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,223,850	10,864,042	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,572	56,062	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	144.8	137.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	986	1,602	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	56	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.9° N	49.8° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   RussiavsNew Zealand

   Population: 143,826,130 vs 5,200,000 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered New Zealand.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Russia against New Zealand

   Category	Russia	New Zealand	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,098,242	268,838	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	143,826,130	5,200,000	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	44,299	54,950	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.4	19.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,642	3,724	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37,653	15,134	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.6° N	45.3° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   BruneivsTürkiye

   Wealth per person: 85,103 vs 43,196 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Türkiye.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Brunei against Türkiye

   Category	Brunei	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,765	783,562	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	458,949	85,325,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	85,103	43,196	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	79.6	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,850	5,137	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	7,200	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.5° N	39.1° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   SwedenvsUzbekistan

   Wealth per person: 68,458 vs 11,679 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Uzbekistan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sweden against Uzbekistan

   Category	Sweden	Uzbekistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	450,295	447,400	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,536,632	35,652,307	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	68,458	11,679	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	23.4	79.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,100	4,643	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,218	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	65.8° N	41.5° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   North KoreavsIndia

   Flag colours: 3 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: North Korea.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for North Korea against India

   Category	North Korea	India	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	120,538	3,287,263	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,418,204	1,438,069,596	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	Unavailable	9,853	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	219.2	437.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,744	8,586	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,495	7,000	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	22.4° N	Would lose