A little knowledge. An empire of 17.

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

   QatarvsIraq

   Wealth per person: 129,025 vs 14,665 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Iraq.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Qatar against Iraq

   Category	Qatar	Iraq	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,586	438,317	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,656,032	45,074,049	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	129,025	14,665	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	229.2	102.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	103	3,611	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	563	58	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	25.1° N	33.3° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   SudanvsPalestine

   Area: 1,861,484 vs 6,220 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Palestine.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sudan against Palestine

   Category	Sudan	Palestine	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,861,484	6,220	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	50,042,791	5,165,775	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,423	6,179	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	26.9	830.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,042	1,020	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	853	40	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	16.6° N	32.1° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   VietnamvsLuxembourg

   Coastline: 3,444 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Luxembourg.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Vietnam against Luxembourg

   Category	Vietnam	Luxembourg	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	331,210	2,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	100,352,192	666,430	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,034	152,596	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	303.0	257.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,144	559	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,444	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.7° N	49.7° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   DenmarkvsSingapore

   Coastline: 7,314 vs 193 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Singapore.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Denmark against Singapore

   Category	Denmark	Singapore	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	43,094	719	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,946,952	5,917,648	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	77,425	144,728	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	138.0	8,230.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	171	166	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,314	193	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	55.9° N	1.4° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   PhilippinesvsKenya

   Density: 383.0 vs 95.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kenya.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Philippines against Kenya

   Category	Philippines	Kenya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	300,000	580,367	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	114,891,199	55,339,003	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,995	6,322	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	383.0	95.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,954	5,199	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	36,289	536	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.0° N	0.4° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Tied17 countries · 4 lives left

   BhutanvsAzerbaijan

   Coastline: 0 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Azerbaijan became contested.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bhutan against Azerbaijan

   Category	Bhutan	Azerbaijan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	38,394	86,600	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	786,385	10,153,958	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,229	23,671	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.5	117.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,570	4,466	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.5° N	40.5° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   SlovakiavsAfghanistan

   Wealth per person: 45,865 vs 2,204 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Afghanistan, Azerbaijan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Slovakia against Afghanistan

   Category	Slovakia	Afghanistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	49,035	652,230	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,426,740	41,454,761	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45,865	2,204	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	110.7	63.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,655	7,492	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.7° N	34.3° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   GuatemalavsKuwait

   Coastline: 400 vs 499 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Guatemala.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guatemala against Kuwait

   Category	Guatemala	Kuwait	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	108,889	17,818	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,124,838	4,853,420	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,752	53,083	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	166.5	272.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,220	300	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	400	499	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.0° N	29.4° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Lost17 countries · 2 lives left

   RomaniavsSpain

   Density: 80.0 vs 95.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Romania.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Romania against Spain

   Category	Romania	Spain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	238,391	505,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,061,062	48,352,528	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	45,982	55,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	80.0	95.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,544	3,718	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	225	4,964	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.7° N	40.0° N	Would lose