A little knowledge. An empire of 20.

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

   BangladeshvsSenegal

   Population: 171,466,990 vs 18,077,573 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Senegal.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bangladesh against Senegal

   Category	Bangladesh	Senegal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	148,460	196,722	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	171,466,990	18,077,573	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,155	4,782	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,155.0	91.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,060	648	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	580	531	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.3° N	15.2° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   LiberiavsGreece

   Proximity to equator: 7.0° N vs 39.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Greece.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Liberia against Greece

   Category	Liberia	Greece	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	111,369	131,957	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,493,031	10,407,351	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,796	42,614	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	49.3	78.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,447	2,917	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	579	13,676	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.0° N	39.8° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   Sri LankavsLebanon

   Population: 22,037,000 vs 5,773,493 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lebanon.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sri Lanka against Lebanon

   Category	Sri Lanka	Lebanon	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	65,610	10,400	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	22,037,000	5,773,493	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,512	12,585	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	335.9	555.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,524	3,088	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,340	225	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.1° N	34.2° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   MalawivsHonduras

   Population: 21,104,482 vs 10,644,851 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Honduras.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malawi against Honduras

   Category	Malawi	Honduras	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	112,090	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	21,104,482	10,644,851	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	7,184	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	178.1	95.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	2,870	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	823	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	14.7° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   NigervsBotswana

   Area: 1,267,000 vs 581,730 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Botswana.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Niger against Botswana

   Category	Niger	Botswana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,267,000	581,730	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,159,867	2,480,244	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,903	21,029	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	20.6	4.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,022	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 ↓	17.6° N	22.1° S	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   IrelandvsSuriname

   Wealth per person: 133,440 vs 21,128 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Suriname.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ireland against Suriname

   Category	Ireland	Suriname	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	70,273	163,820	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,311,538	628,886	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	133,440	21,128	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	75.6	3.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,041	1,230	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,448	386	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	53.1° N	4.1° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   MadagascarvsBolivia

   Density: 53.1 vs 11.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bolivia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Madagascar against Bolivia

   Category	Madagascar	Bolivia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	587,041	1,098,581	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,195,932	12,244,159	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,810	12,903	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	53.1	11.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,876	6,542	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,828	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	18.4° S	16.7° S	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 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

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   GermanyvsPhilippines

   Wealth per person: 72,262 vs 10,995 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Philippines.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Germany against Philippines

   Category	Germany	Philippines	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	357,022	300,000	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	83,287,273	114,891,199	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	72,262	10,995	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	233.3	383.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	2,954	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,389	36,289	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.0° N	17.0° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    Timor-LestevsEritrea

    Highest peak: 2,963 vs 3,018 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Timor-Leste.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Timor-Leste against Eritrea

    Category	Timor-Leste	Eritrea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	14,874	117,600	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,384,286	3,470,390	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	4,811	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	93.1	29.5	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,963	3,018	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	706	2,234	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.9° S	16.0° N	Would win