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

   EcuadorvsSpain

   Highest peak: 6,267 vs 3,718 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Spain.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ecuador against Spain

   Category	Ecuador	Spain	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	283,561	505,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,980,083	48,352,528	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,907	55,661	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	63.4	95.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6,267	3,718	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,237	4,964	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	10	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.2° S	40.0° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   CambodiavsUzbekistan

   Proximity to equator: 12.6° N vs 41.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Uzbekistan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cambodia against Uzbekistan

   Category	Cambodia	Uzbekistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	181,035	447,400	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,423,880	35,652,307	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,437	11,679	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.2	79.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,810	4,643	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	443	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	12.6° N	41.5° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   North KoreavsBotswana

   Population: 26,418,204 vs 2,480,244 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Botswana.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for North Korea against Botswana

   Category	North Korea	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	120,538	581,730	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	26,418,204	2,480,244	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑North Korea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for North Korea.	Unavailable	21,029	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	219.2	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,744	1,495	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,495	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.9° N	22.1° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   SyriavsQatar

   Area: 187,437 vs 11,586 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Qatar.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Syria against Qatar

   Category	Syria	Qatar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	187,437	11,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,594,623	2,656,032	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	129,025	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.9	229.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,814	103	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	563	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.0° N	25.1° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   ChilevsTogo

   Coastline: 6,435 vs 56 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Togo.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Chile against Togo

   Category	Chile	Togo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	756,102	56,785	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,658,835	8,223,850	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	33,174	3,572	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	26.0	144.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,893	986	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6,435	56	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.4° S	8.9° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   IndiavsMauritania

   Population: 1,438,069,596 vs 5,022,441 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mauritania.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for India against Mauritania

   Category	India	Mauritania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	3,287,263	1,030,700	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,438,069,596	5,022,441	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,853	6,972	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	437.5	4.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,586	915	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,000	754	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.4° N	19.4° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   AustriavsLiberia

   Highest peak: 3,798 vs 1,447 m · 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 ↑	74,261	1,796	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	49.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	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

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   EthiopiavsTanzania

   Area: 1,104,300 vs 947,300 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tanzania.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ethiopia against Tanzania

   Category	Ethiopia	Tanzania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,104,300	947,300	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	128,691,692	66,617,606	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,063	4,022	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	116.5	70.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,550	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 ↓	8.5° N	5.5° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   MoroccovsIreland

   Proximity to equator: 31.9° N vs 53.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Ireland.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Morocco against Ireland

   Category	Morocco	Ireland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	446,550	70,273	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	37,712,505	5,311,538	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,903	133,440	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	84.5	75.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,165	1,041	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,835	1,448	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	31.9° N	53.1° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    EswatinivsDominican Republic

    Highest peak: 1,862 vs 3,098 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Eswatini.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Eswatini against Dominican Republic

    Category	Eswatini	Dominican Republic	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,364	48,670	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,230,506	11,331,265	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,309	25,861	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	70.9	232.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,862	3,098	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,288	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	6	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.6° S	19.1° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Lost19 countries · 2 lives left

    NicaraguavsCosta Rica

    Density: 52.3 vs 99.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Nicaragua.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Nicaragua against Costa Rica

    Category	Nicaragua	Costa Rica	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	130,370	51,100	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,823,613	5,105,525	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	8,327	29,248	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	52.3	99.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,085	3,819	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	910	1,290	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	10	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.6° N	10.1° N	Would lose