A little knowledge. An empire of 18.

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

   AndorravsAzerbaijan

   Density: 172.8 vs 117.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Azerbaijan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Andorra against Azerbaijan

   Category	Andorra	Azerbaijan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	468	86,600	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	80,856	10,153,958	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	71,790	23,671	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	172.8	117.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,946	4,466	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	40.5° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   AlbaniavsParaguay

   Density: 83.9 vs 16.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Paraguay.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Albania against Paraguay

   Category	Albania	Paraguay	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,748	406,752	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,411,658	6,844,146	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,848	17,585	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	83.9	16.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,764	842	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	21.6° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   AustriavsMaldives

   Wealth per person: 74,261 vs 24,807 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Maldives.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Austria against Maldives

   Category	Austria	Maldives	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,871	298	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,131,761	525,994	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	74,261	24,807	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	1,765.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,798	5	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	644	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.7° N	3.3° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   PortugalvsRussia

   Wealth per person: 49,800 vs 44,299 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Russia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Portugal against Russia

   Category	Portugal	Russia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	17,098,242	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	143,826,130	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49,800	44,299	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	8.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	5,642	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	37,653	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	63.6° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   SloveniavsPalestine

   Wealth per person: 56,151 vs 6,179 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Palestine.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Slovenia against Palestine

   Category	Slovenia	Palestine	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	20,273	6,220	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,120,461	5,165,775	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	56,151	6,179	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	104.6	830.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,864	1,020	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	46.6	40	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.0° N	32.1° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   GuineavsDjibouti

   Area: 245,857 vs 23,200 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Djibouti.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea against Djibouti

   Category	Guinea	Djibouti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	245,857	23,200	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	1,152,944	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	7,232	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	49.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	2,021	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	320	314	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.7° N	11.4° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   TajikistanvsCroatia

   Highest peak: 7,495 vs 1,831 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Croatia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Tajikistan against Croatia

   Category	Tajikistan	Croatia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	144,100	56,594	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,389,799	3,859,686	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,968	47,760	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	72.1	68.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,495	1,831	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	5,835	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	38.3° N	45.8° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   LatviavsBotswana

   Highest peak: 312 vs 1,495 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Latvia.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Latvia against Botswana

   Category	Latvia	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	64,589	581,730	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,883,710	2,480,244	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	42,784	21,029	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.2	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	312	1,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	498	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	56.6° N	22.1° S	Would lose