A little knowledge. An empire of 22.

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

   MaltavsCroatia

   Proximity to equator: 35.9° N vs 45.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Croatia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malta against Croatia

   Category	Malta	Croatia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	316	56,594	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	552,747	3,859,686	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	67,101	47,760	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,749.2	68.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	253	1,831	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	196.8	5,835	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	35.9° N	45.8° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   IcelandvsRepublic of the Congo

   Wealth per person: 82,257 vs 6,856 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Republic of the Congo.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iceland against Republic of the Congo

   Category	Iceland	Republic of the Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	103,000	342,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	385,663	6,182,885	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	82,257	6,856	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.7	18.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,110	1,020	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,970	169	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	64.7° N	0.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   CyprusvsAfghanistan

   Coastline: 648 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Afghanistan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cyprus against Afghanistan

   Category	Cyprus	Afghanistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,251	652,230	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	41,454,761	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	59,875	2,204	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	145.4	63.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	7,492	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	648	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	34.3° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   PhilippinesvsTurkmenistan

   Coastline: 36,289 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Turkmenistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Philippines against Turkmenistan

   Category	Philippines	Turkmenistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	300,000	488,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	114,891,199	7,364,438	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,995	19,645	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	383.0	15.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,954	3,139	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	36,289	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.0° N	39.9° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   JapanvsEswatini

   Wealth per person: 52,726 vs 11,309 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Eswatini.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Japan against Eswatini

   Category	Japan	Eswatini	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	377,915	17,364	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	124,516,650	1,230,506	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	52,726	11,309	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	329.5	70.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,776	1,862	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	29,751	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	36.7° N	26.6° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   ItalyvsKyrgyzstan

   Coastline: 7,600 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kyrgyzstan.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Italy against Kyrgyzstan

   Category	Italy	Kyrgyzstan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	301,340	199,951	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	58,984,216	7,099,750	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,350	7,304	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	195.7	35.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,748	7,439	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,600	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.1° N	41.7° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   Papua New GuineavsLibya

   Coastline: 5,152 vs 1,770 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Libya.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Papua New Guinea against Libya

   Category	Papua New Guinea	Libya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	462,840	1,759,540	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,389,635	7,305,659	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,672	13,858	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	22.4	4.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,509	2,267	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,152	1,770	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	5.5° S	26.1° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   PortugalvsParaguay

   Wealth per person: 49,800 vs 17,585 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Paraguay.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Portugal against Paraguay

   Category	Portugal	Paraguay	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	92,090	406,752	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,578,174	6,844,146	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49,800	17,585	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	114.9	16.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,351	842	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,793	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	6	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	21.6° S	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   TürkiyevsBurkina Faso

   Population: 85,325,965 vs 23,025,776 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Burkina Faso.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Türkiye against Burkina Faso

   Category	Türkiye	Burkina Faso	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	783,562	274,200	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	85,325,965	23,025,776	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	43,196	2,762	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	84.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,137	749	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,200	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.1° N	12.8° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    BurundivsBrunei

    Highest peak: 2,685 vs 1,850 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Brunei.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Burundi against Brunei

    Category	Burundi	Brunei	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	27,830	5,765	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,689,450	458,949	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,147	85,103	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	491.9	79.6	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,685	1,850	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	161	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.4° S	4.5° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    SomaliavsMaldives

    Population: 18,358,615 vs 525,994 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Maldives.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Somalia against Maldives

    Category	Somalia	Maldives	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	637,657	298	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	18,358,615	525,994	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,557	24,807	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	1,765.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,460	5	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,025	644	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.6° N	3.3° N	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Won24 countries · 4 lives left

    New ZealandvsCameroon

    Wealth per person: 54,950 vs 5,415 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Cameroon.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for New Zealand against Cameroon

    Category	New Zealand	Cameroon	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	268,838	475,440	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,200,000	28,372,687	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	54,950	5,415	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.3	59.7	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,724	4,045	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	15,134	402	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.3° S	4.5° N	Would lose

13. 13
    Round 13Lost23 countries · 3 lives left

    MaltavsDjibouti

    Coastline: 196.8 vs 314 km · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Malta.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Malta against Djibouti

    Category	Malta	Djibouti	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	316	23,200	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	552,747	1,152,944	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	67,101	7,232	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,749.2	49.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	253	2,021	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	196.8	314	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.9° N	11.4° N	Would lose

14. 14
    Round 14Won24 countries · 3 lives left

    CroatiavsSudan

    Wealth per person: 47,760 vs 2,423 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Sudan.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Croatia against Sudan

    Category	Croatia	Sudan	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,594	1,861,484	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,859,686	50,042,791	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	47,760	2,423	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	68.2	26.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,831	3,042	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	5,835	853	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.8° N	16.6° N	Would lose

15. 15
    Round 15Lost23 countries · 2 lives left

    IcelandvsPanama

    Highest peak: 2,110 vs 3,475 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Iceland.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Iceland against Panama

    Category	Iceland	Panama	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	103,000	75,420	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	385,663	4,458,759	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	82,257	39,846	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.7	59.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,110	3,475	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,970	2,490	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	64.7° N	8.4° N	Would lose

16. 16
    Round 16Lost22 countries · 1 life left

    Republic of the CongovsRomania

    Population: 6,182,885 vs 19,061,062 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Republic of the Congo.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Republic of the Congo against Romania

    Category	Republic of the Congo	Romania	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	342,000	238,391	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6,182,885	19,061,062	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,856	45,982	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	18.1	80.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	2,544	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	169	225	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.1° N	45.7° N	Would win