A little knowledge. An empire of 19.

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

   NicaraguavsLibya

   Density: 52.3 vs 4.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Libya.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Nicaragua against Libya

   Category	Nicaragua	Libya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	130,370	1,759,540	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,823,613	7,305,659	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	8,327	13,858	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	52.3	4.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,085	2,267	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	910	1,770	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.6° N	26.1° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   AustriavsLiberia

   Wealth per person: 74,261 vs 1,796 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Liberia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Austria against Liberia

   Category	Austria	Liberia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,871	111,369	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,131,761	5,493,031	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	74,261	1,796	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	49.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,798	1,447	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	579	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.7° N	7.0° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   IranvsArmenia

   Population: 90,608,707 vs 2,964,300 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Armenia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iran against Armenia

   Category	Iran	Armenia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,648,195	29,743	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	90,608,707	2,964,300	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	21,552	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	99.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	4,090	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	40.6° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   AndorravsCosta Rica

   Density: 172.8 vs 99.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Costa Rica.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Andorra against Costa Rica

   Category	Andorra	Costa Rica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	468	51,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	80,856	5,105,525	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	71,790	29,248	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	172.8	99.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,946	3,819	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,290	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	10.1° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   North KoreavsIndonesia

   Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Indonesia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for North Korea against Indonesia

   Category	North Korea	Indonesia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	120,538	1,904,569	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,418,204	281,190,067	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	Unavailable	15,428	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	219.2	147.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,744	4,884	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,495	54,716	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	1.0° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   Dominican RepublicvsPakistan

   Flag colours: 6 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Pakistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Dominican Republic against Pakistan

   Category	Dominican Republic	Pakistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	48,670	796,095	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,331,265	247,504,495	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,861	6,019	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	232.8	310.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,098	8,611	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,288	1,046	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.1° N	27.8° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   MalaysiavsCyprus

   Area: 329,847 vs 9,251 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cyprus.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malaysia against Cyprus

   Category	Malaysia	Cyprus	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	329,847	9,251	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	35,126,298	1,344,976	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	36,497	59,875	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	106.5	145.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,095	1,951	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,675	648	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.4° N	34.9° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   SurinamevsPeru

   Wealth per person: 21,128 vs 17,042 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Peru.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Suriname against Peru

   Category	Suriname	Peru	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	163,820	1,285,216	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	628,886	33,845,617	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	21,128	17,042	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	26.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,230	6,746	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	2,414	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.1° N	13.0° S	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Lost19 countries · 3 lives left

   BeninvsPapua New Guinea

   Proximity to equator: 10.4° N vs 5.5° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Benin.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Benin against Papua New Guinea

   Category	Benin	Papua New Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,622	462,840	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,111,034	10,389,635	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,133	4,672	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.3	22.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	675	4,509	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	121	5,152	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.4° N	5.5° S	Would lose