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

   AzerbaijanvsTanzania

   Wealth per person: 23,671 vs 4,022 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tanzania.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Azerbaijan against Tanzania

   Category	Azerbaijan	Tanzania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	86,600	947,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,153,958	66,617,606	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	23,671	4,022	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	117.3	70.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,466	5,895	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,424	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.5° N	5.5° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   IrelandvsBelize

   Wealth per person: 133,440 vs 13,741 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Belize.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ireland against Belize

   Category	Ireland	Belize	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	70,273	22,966	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,311,538	411,106	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	133,440	13,741	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	75.6	17.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,041	1,124	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,448	386	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	12	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	53.1° N	17.0° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   South AfricavsChile

   Population: 63,212,384 vs 19,658,835 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Chile.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Africa against Chile

   Category	South Africa	Chile	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,219,090	756,102	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	63,212,384	19,658,835	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,212	33,174	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	51.9	26.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,450	6,893	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,798	6,435	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.2° S	23.4° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   KyrgyzstanvsLesotho

   Highest peak: 7,439 vs 3,482 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lesotho.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kyrgyzstan against Lesotho

   Category	Kyrgyzstan	Lesotho	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	199,951	30,355	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,099,750	2,311,472	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,304	2,880	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	35.5	76.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,439	3,482	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.7° N	29.4° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   Trinidad and TobagovsSenegal

   Density: 266.7 vs 91.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Senegal.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Trinidad and Tobago against Senegal

   Category	Trinidad and Tobago	Senegal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	5,128	196,722	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,367,510	18,077,573	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	34,652	4,782	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	266.7	91.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	940	648	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	531	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.3° N	15.2° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   JamaicavsEstonia

   Density: 258.4 vs 30.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Jamaica against Estonia

   Category	Jamaica	Estonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	10,991	45,228	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,839,786	1,370,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,661	48,848	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	258.4	30.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,256	318	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,022	3,794	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	18.1° N	58.6° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   LatviavsEritrea

   Population: 1,883,710 vs 3,470,390 people · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Latvia.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Latvia against Eritrea

   Category	Latvia	Eritrea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	64,589	117,600	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,883,710	3,470,390	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	42,784	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.2	29.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	312	3,018	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	498	2,234	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	56.6° N	16.0° N	Would lose