A little knowledge. An empire of 23.

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

   El SalvadorvsLithuania

   Proximity to equator: 13.9° N vs 55.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Lithuania.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for El Salvador against Lithuania

   Category	El Salvador	Lithuania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	65,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	2,871,585	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	52,720	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	299.9	44.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	294	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	90	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	13.9° N	55.1° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   NorwayvsIreland

   Area: 323,802 vs 70,273 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ireland.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Norway against Ireland

   Category	Norway	Ireland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	323,802	70,273	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,519,601	5,311,538	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	107,768	133,440	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.0	75.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,469	1,041	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	25,148	1,448	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	61.5° N	53.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   TunisiavsKuwait

   Area: 163,610 vs 17,818 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Tunisia against Kuwait

   Category	Tunisia	Kuwait	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	163,610	17,818	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	12,200,431	4,853,420	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,052	53,083	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	272.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,544	300	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,148	499	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.3° N	29.4° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   LibyavsDR Congo

   Wealth per person: 13,858 vs 1,732 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered DR Congo.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Libya against DR Congo

   Category	Libya	DR Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,759,540	2,344,858	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,305,659	105,789,731	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	13,858	1,732	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.2	45.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,267	5,110	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,770	37	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.1° N	1.9° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   Saudi ArabiavsZimbabwe

   Area: 2,149,690 vs 390,757 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Zimbabwe.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Saudi Arabia against Zimbabwe

   Category	Saudi Arabia	Zimbabwe	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,149,690	390,757	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	33,702,731	16,340,822	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	71,624	5,796	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.7	41.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,000	2,592	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,640	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	19.0° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   BulgariavsArmenia

   Wealth per person: 38,829 vs 21,552 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Armenia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bulgaria against Armenia

   Category	Bulgaria	Armenia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	110,879	29,743	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,446,596	2,964,300	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	38,829	21,552	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.1	99.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,925	4,090	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	354	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	40.6° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   LaosvsTogo

   Area: 236,800 vs 56,785 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Togo.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Laos against Togo

   Category	Laos	Togo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	236,800	56,785	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,664,993	8,223,850	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,299	3,572	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	32.4	144.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,817	986	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	56	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.6° N	8.9° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   AzerbaijanvsEthiopia

   Wealth per person: 23,671 vs 3,063 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ethiopia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Azerbaijan against Ethiopia

   Category	Azerbaijan	Ethiopia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	86,600	1,104,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,153,958	128,691,692	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	23,671	3,063	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	116.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,466	4,550	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.5° N	8.5° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   LesothovsTajikistan

   Proximity to equator: 29.4° S vs 38.3° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Tajikistan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Lesotho against Tajikistan

   Category	Lesotho	Tajikistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,355	144,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,311,472	10,389,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,880	4,968	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	76.1	72.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,482	7,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	29.4° S	38.3° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    VenezuelavsHaiti

    Area: 912,050 vs 27,750 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Haiti.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Venezuela against Haiti

    Category	Venezuela	Haiti	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	912,050	27,750	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,300,854	11,637,398	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	Unavailable	3,265	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	31.0	419.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,978	2,674	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,800	1,771	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	7	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.2° N	19.2° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    MaldivesvsCosta Rica

    Proximity to equator: 3.3° N vs 10.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Costa Rica.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Maldives against Costa Rica

    Category	Maldives	Costa Rica	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	51,100	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	5,105,525	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,807	29,248	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,765.1	99.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	3,819	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	644	1,290	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	3.3° N	10.1° N	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Won24 countries · 4 lives left

    RomaniavsDominican Republic

    Wealth per person: 45,982 vs 25,861 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Dominican Republic.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Romania against Dominican Republic

    Category	Romania	Dominican Republic	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	238,391	48,670	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,061,062	11,331,265	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45,982	25,861	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	80.0	232.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,544	3,098	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	225	1,288	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.7° N	19.1° N	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Lost23 countries · 3 lives left

    El SalvadorvsMoldova

    Area: 21,041 vs 33,851 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: El Salvador.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for El Salvador against Moldova

    Category	El Salvador	Moldova	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	21,041	33,851	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	2,457,783	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	17,751	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	299.9	72.6	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	430	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	9	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	47.5° N	Would win