A little knowledge. An empire of 16.

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

   YemenvsKyrgyzstan

   Area: 527,968 vs 199,951 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kyrgyzstan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Yemen against Kyrgyzstan

   Category	Yemen	Kyrgyzstan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	527,968	199,951	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	39,390,799	7,099,750	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Yemen: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Yemen.	Unavailable	7,304	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	74.6	35.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,666	7,439	Would lose
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	1,906	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.3° N	41.7° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Solomon IslandsvsSlovakia

   Flag colours: 4 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Slovakia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Solomon Islands against Slovakia

   Category	Solomon Islands	Slovakia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,896	49,035	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	800,005	5,426,740	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,599	45,865	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.7	110.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,335	2,655	Would lose
   CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑	5,313	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	9.6° S	48.7° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   IranvsMongolia

   Coastline: 2,440 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mongolia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iran against Mongolia

   Category	Iran	Mongolia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,648,195	1,564,116	Would win
   PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑	90,608,707	3,481,145	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	18,020	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	2.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	4,374	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,440	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	46.0° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Tied15 countries · 4 lives left

   MaldivesvsBotswana

   Flag colours: 3 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Botswana became contested.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Maldives against Botswana

   Category	Maldives	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	581,730	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	2,480,244	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,807	21,029	Would win
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	1,765.1	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	1,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	644	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.3° N	22.1° S	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   KuwaitvsPortugal

   Proximity to equator: 29.4° N vs 40.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Portugal, Botswana.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Kuwait against Portugal

   Category	Kuwait	Portugal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,818	92,090	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	4,853,420	10,578,174	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	53,083	49,800	Would win
   DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑	272.4	114.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	300	2,351	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	499	1,793	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	29.4° N	40.7° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Lost16 countries · 3 lives left

   UgandavsMyanmar

   Highest peak: 5,110 vs 5,870 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Uganda.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uganda against Myanmar

   Category	Uganda	Myanmar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	241,038	676,578	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	48,656,601	54,133,798	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,100	5,958	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	201.9	80.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,110	5,870	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,930	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.0° N	21.6° N	Would win