A little knowledge. An empire of 18.

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

   IcelandvsPeru

   Wealth per person: 82,257 vs 17,042 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Peru.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iceland against Peru

   Category	Iceland	Peru	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	103,000	1,285,216	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	385,663	33,845,617	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	82,257	17,042	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.7	26.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,110	6,746	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,970	2,414	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	64.7° N	13.0° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   SerbiavsNamibia

   Wealth per person: 29,777 vs 11,248 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Namibia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Serbia against Namibia

   Category	Serbia	Namibia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	77,474	824,292	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,623,183	2,963,095	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	29,777	11,248	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	85.5	3.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,169	2,573	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,572	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	5	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	44.2° N	20.6° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   RussiavsChad

   Population: 143,826,130 vs 19,319,064 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Chad.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Russia against Chad

   Category	Russia	Chad	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,098,242	1,284,000	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	143,826,130	19,319,064	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	44,299	2,703	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.4	15.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,642	3,445	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37,653	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.6° N	17.3° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   AlgeriavsNiger

   Population: 46,164,219 vs 26,159,867 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Niger.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Algeria against Niger

   Category	Algeria	Niger	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,381,740	1,267,000	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	46,164,219	26,159,867	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,838	1,903	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.4	20.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,908	2,022	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	998	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.4° N	17.6° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   VanuatuvsEl Salvador

   Coastline: 2,528 vs 307 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered El Salvador.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Vanuatu against El Salvador

   Category	Vanuatu	El Salvador	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	12,189	21,041	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	320,409	6,309,624	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,202	12,667	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	26.3	299.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,877	2,730	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,528	307	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.4° S	13.9° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   Dominican RepublicvsColombia

   Density: 232.8 vs 45.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Colombia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Dominican Republic against Colombia

   Category	Dominican Republic	Colombia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	48,670	1,138,910	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,331,265	52,321,152	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,861	21,282	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	232.8	45.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,098	5,730	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,288	3,208	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.1° N	3.4° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   ComorosvsHungary

   Density: 380.5 vs 103.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Hungary.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Comoros against Hungary

   Category	Comoros	Hungary	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,235	93,028	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	850,387	9,592,186	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,897	46,376	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	380.5	103.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,360	1,014	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	340	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	11.7° S	47.3° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   GeorgiavsChina

   Proximity to equator: 42.4° N vs 32.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Georgia.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Georgia against China

   Category	Georgia	China	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	69,700	9,596,960	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,715,483	1,410,710,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,093	25,200	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	53.3	147.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,193	8,849	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	310	14,500	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	42.4° N	32.5° N	Would lose