A little knowledge. An empire of 25.

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

   MadagascarvsUkraine

   Proximity to equator: 18.4° S vs 49.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Ukraine.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Madagascar against Ukraine

   Category	Madagascar	Ukraine	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	587,041	603,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,195,932	37,732,836	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,810	17,680	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	53.1	62.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,876	2,061	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,828	2,782	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	18.4° S	49.6° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Equatorial GuineavsMozambique

   Proximity to equator: 1.6° N vs 14.0° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Mozambique.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against Mozambique

   Category	Equatorial Guinea	Mozambique	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,051	799,380	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	33,635,160	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,997	1,680	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	42.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	2,436	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	2,470	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	5	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.6° N	14.0° S	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   BrazilvsGambia

   Population: 211,140,729 vs 2,697,845 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Gambia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Brazil against Gambia

   Category	Brazil	Gambia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	8,515,770	11,300	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	211,140,729	2,697,845	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,193	3,292	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	24.8	238.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,994	63	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,491	80	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.6° S	13.6° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   RussiavsMexico

   Area: 17,098,242 vs 1,964,375 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mexico.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Russia against Mexico

   Category	Russia	Mexico	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	17,098,242	1,964,375	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	143,826,130	129,739,759	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	44,299	25,188	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.4	66.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,642	5,636	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37,653	9,330	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	11	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.6° N	23.5° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   SyriavsCosta Rica

   Area: 187,437 vs 51,100 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Costa Rica.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Syria against Costa Rica

   Category	Syria	Costa Rica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	187,437	51,100	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,594,623	5,105,525	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	29,248	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.9	99.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,814	3,819	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	1,290	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.0° N	10.1° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   MalaysiavsBelize

   Population: 35,126,298 vs 411,106 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Belize.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malaysia against Belize

   Category	Malaysia	Belize	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	329,847	22,966	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	35,126,298	411,106	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	36,497	13,741	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	106.5	17.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,095	1,124	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,675	386	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	12	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.4° N	17.0° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   SingaporevsSaudi Arabia

   Density: 8,230.4 vs 15.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Saudi Arabia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Singapore against Saudi Arabia

   Category	Singapore	Saudi Arabia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	719	2,149,690	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,917,648	33,702,731	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	144,728	71,624	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8,230.4	15.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	166	3,000	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	2,640	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.4° N	23.5° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   Bosnia and HerzegovinavsDR Congo

   Wealth per person: 23,376 vs 1,732 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered DR Congo.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Bosnia and Herzegovina against DR Congo

   Category	Bosnia and Herzegovina	DR Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	51,197	2,344,858	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,185,073	105,789,731	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	23,376	1,732	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	62.2	45.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,386	5,110	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	20	37	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	44.1° N	1.9° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   GermanyvsVenezuela

   Population: 83,287,273 vs 28,300,854 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Venezuela.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Germany against Venezuela

   Category	Germany	Venezuela	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	357,022	912,050	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	83,287,273	28,300,854	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	72,262	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	233.3	31.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	4,978	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,389	2,800	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.0° N	7.2° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    AustriavsNiger

    Wealth per person: 74,261 vs 1,903 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Niger.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Austria against Niger

    Category	Austria	Niger	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,871	1,267,000	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,131,761	26,159,867	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	74,261	1,903	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	20.6	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,798	2,022	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.7° N	17.6° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    ArmeniavsBotswana

    Highest peak: 4,090 vs 1,495 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Botswana.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Armenia against Botswana

    Category	Armenia	Botswana	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	29,743	581,730	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,964,300	2,480,244	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,552	21,029	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.7	4.3	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,090	1,495	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.6° N	22.1° S	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Won24 countries · 4 lives left

    MaldivesvsBrunei

    Coastline: 644 vs 161 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Brunei.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Maldives against Brunei

    Category	Maldives	Brunei	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	5,765	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	458,949	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,807	85,103	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,765.1	79.6	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	1,850	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	644	161	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.3° N	4.5° N	Would win

13. 13
    Round 13Won25 countries · 4 lives left

    MadagascarvsArgentina

    Proximity to equator: 18.4° S vs 31.4° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Argentina.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Madagascar against Argentina

    Category	Madagascar	Argentina	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	587,041	2,780,400	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,195,932	45,538,401	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,810	30,246	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	53.1	16.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,876	6,962	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,828	4,989	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	18.4° S	31.4° S	Would win

14. 14
    Round 14Won26 countries · 4 lives left

    UkrainevsAustralia

    Population: 37,732,836 vs 26,659,922 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Australia.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Ukraine against Australia

    Category	Ukraine	Australia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	603,550	7,741,220	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	37,732,836	26,659,922	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,680	72,273	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	62.5	3.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,061	2,228	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,782	25,760	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.6° N	23.1° S	Would lose

15. 15
    Round 15Lost25 countries · 3 lives left

    Equatorial GuineavsRepublic of the Congo

    Proximity to equator: 1.6° N vs 0.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Returned to the world: Equatorial Guinea.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against Republic of the Congo

    Category	Equatorial Guinea	Republic of the Congo	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,051	342,000	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	6,182,885	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,997	6,856	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	18.1	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	1,020	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	169	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.6° N	0.1° N	Would lose