A little knowledge. An empire of 15.

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

   RwandavsKyrgyzstan

   Proximity to equator: 1.8° S vs 41.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Kyrgyzstan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Rwanda against Kyrgyzstan

   Category	Rwanda	Kyrgyzstan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	26,338	199,951	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,954,471	7,099,750	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,519	7,304	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	529.8	35.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,519	7,439	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.8° S	41.7° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   KazakhstanvsOman

   Area: 2,724,900 vs 309,500 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Oman.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kazakhstan against Oman

   Category	Kazakhstan	Oman	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,724,900	309,500	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	20,330,104	5,049,269	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	38,547	41,980	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	7.5	16.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	7,010	3,004	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,092	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.5° N	22.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   BelgiumvsVanuatu

   Wealth per person: 72,630 vs 4,202 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vanuatu.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Belgium against Vanuatu

   Category	Belgium	Vanuatu	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,528	12,189	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,779,946	320,409	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	72,630	4,202	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	385.9	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	694	1,877	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	66.5	2,528	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	50.8° N	15.4° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   BahrainvsChile

   Density: 2,075.1 vs 26.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Chile.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Bahrain against Chile

   Category	Bahrain	Chile	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	760	756,102	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,577,059	19,658,835	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	64,224	33,174	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,075.1	26.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	135	6,893	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	6,435	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.0° N	23.4° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   El SalvadorvsKuwait

   Area: 21,041 vs 17,818 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for El Salvador against Kuwait

   Category	El Salvador	Kuwait	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	21,041	17,818	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	4,853,420	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	53,083	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	299.9	272.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	300	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	499	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	29.4° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   EstoniavsTajikistan

   Density: 30.3 vs 72.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Estonia against Tajikistan

   Category	Estonia	Tajikistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	144,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	10,389,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	48,848	4,968	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	30.3	72.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	7,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,794	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	38.3° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Lost15 countries · 2 lives left

   UgandavsVietnam

   Area: 241,038 vs 331,210 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Uganda.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uganda against Vietnam

   Category	Uganda	Vietnam	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	241,038	331,210	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	48,656,601	100,352,192	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,100	15,034	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	201.9	303.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,110	3,144	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,444	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.0° N	21.7° N	Would win