A little knowledge. An empire of 21.

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

   ZambiavsPapua New Guinea

   Area: 752,618 vs 462,840 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Papua New Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Zambia against Papua New Guinea

   Category	Zambia	Papua New Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	752,618	462,840	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	20,723,965	10,389,635	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,080	4,672	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.5	22.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,330	4,509	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	5,152	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° S	5.5° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Côte d’IvoirevsOman

   Proximity to equator: 7.5° N vs 22.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Oman.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Côte d’Ivoire against Oman

   Category	Côte d’Ivoire	Oman	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	322,463	309,500	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,165,654	5,049,269	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,243	41,980	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.6	16.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	3,004	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	515	2,092	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.5° N	22.1° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   ChadvsAlgeria

   Proximity to equator: 17.3° N vs 27.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Algeria.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Chad against Algeria

   Category	Chad	Algeria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,284,000	2,381,740	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,319,064	46,164,219	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,703	16,838	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.0	19.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,445	2,908	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	998	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	17.3° N	27.4° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   CameroonvsCzechia

   Proximity to equator: 4.5° N vs 49.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Czechia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cameroon against Czechia

   Category	Cameroon	Czechia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	475,440	78,867	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,372,687	10,864,042	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,415	56,062	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.7	137.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,045	1,602	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	4.5° N	49.8° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   UkrainevsBelarus

   Area: 603,550 vs 207,600 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Belarus.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ukraine against Belarus

   Category	Ukraine	Belarus	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	603,550	207,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	37,732,836	9,178,298	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,680	30,860	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	62.5	44.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,061	346	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,782	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.6° N	53.8° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   Equatorial GuineavsBrunei

   Proximity to equator: 1.6° N vs 4.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Brunei.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against Brunei

   Category	Equatorial Guinea	Brunei	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,051	5,765	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	458,949	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,997	85,103	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	79.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	1,850	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	161	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.6° N	4.5° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   TurkmenistanvsNigeria

   Highest peak: 3,139 vs 2,419 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nigeria.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Turkmenistan against Nigeria

   Category	Turkmenistan	Nigeria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	488,100	923,768	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,364,438	227,882,945	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	19,645	8,712	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.1	246.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,139	2,419	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	853	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	9.4° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   IranvsLibya

   Wealth per person: 18,933 vs 13,858 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Libya.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iran against Libya

   Category	Iran	Libya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,648,195	1,759,540	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	90,608,707	7,305,659	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	18,933	13,858	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	4.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	2,267	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	1,770	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	26.1° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   BrazilvsChina

   Proximity to equator: 12.6° S vs 32.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered China.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Brazil against China

   Category	Brazil	China	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	8,515,770	9,596,960	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	211,140,729	1,410,710,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,193	25,200	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	24.8	147.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,994	8,849	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,491	14,500	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.6° S	32.5° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    PortugalvsMauritius

    Wealth per person: 49,800 vs 29,403 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Mauritius.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Portugal against Mauritius

    Category	Portugal	Mauritius	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	2,040	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	1,248,647	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49,800	29,403	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	612.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	828	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	177	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	20.3° S	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Lost21 countries · 3 lives left

    BulgariavsNorth Korea

    Area: 110,879 vs 120,538 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Bulgaria.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Bulgaria against North Korea

    Category	Bulgaria	North Korea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	110,879	120,538	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,446,596	26,418,204	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	38,829	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.1	219.2	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,925	2,744	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	354	2,495	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	39.9° N	Would lose