A little knowledge. An empire of 13.

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 1Lost11 countries · 3 lives left

   KuwaitvsSweden

   Wealth per person: 53,083 vs 68,458 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kuwait against Sweden

   Category	Kuwait	Sweden	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,818	450,295	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	4,853,420	10,536,632	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	53,083	68,458	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	272.4	23.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	300	2,100	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	499	3,218	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° N	65.8° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won12 countries · 3 lives left

   CameroonvsTürkiye

   Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Türkiye.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Cameroon against Türkiye

   Category	Cameroon	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	475,440	783,562	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,372,687	85,325,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,415	43,196	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.7	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,045	5,137	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	7,200	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	4.5° N	39.1° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Lost11 countries · 2 lives left

   ZambiavsKenya

   Highest peak: 2,330 vs 5,199 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Zambia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Zambia against Kenya

   Category	Zambia	Kenya	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	752,618	580,367	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	20,723,965	55,339,003	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,080	6,322	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.5	95.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,330	5,199	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	536	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° S	0.4° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won12 countries · 2 lives left

   ColombiavsIraq

   Population: 52,321,152 vs 45,074,049 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Iraq.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Colombia against Iraq

   Category	Colombia	Iraq	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,138,910	438,317	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	52,321,152	45,074,049	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,282	14,665	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.9	102.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,730	3,611	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,208	58	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.4° N	33.3° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won13 countries · 2 lives left

   GuineavsNorway

   Proximity to equator: 10.7° N vs 61.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Norway.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guinea against Norway

   Category	Guinea	Norway	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	323,802	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	5,519,601	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	107,768	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	17.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	2,469	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	320	25,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.7° N	61.5° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won14 countries · 2 lives left

   MaldivesvsBulgaria

   Proximity to equator: 3.3° N vs 42.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Bulgaria.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Maldives against Bulgaria

   Category	Maldives	Bulgaria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	110,879	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	6,446,596	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,807	38,829	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,765.1	58.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	2,925	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	644	354	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	3.3° N	42.5° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won15 countries · 2 lives left

   IcelandvsNepal

   Wealth per person: 82,257 vs 5,400 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nepal.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Iceland against Nepal

   Category	Iceland	Nepal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	103,000	147,181	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	385,663	29,694,614	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	82,257	5,400	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.7	201.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,110	8,849	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,970	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	64.7° N	29.0° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost14 countries · 1 life left

   BeninvsTogo

   Proximity to equator: 10.4° N vs 8.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Benin.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Benin against Togo

   Category	Benin	Togo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,622	56,785	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,111,034	8,223,850	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,133	3,572	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.3	144.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	675	986	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	121	56	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.4° N	8.9° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Lost13 countries · 0 lives left

   LithuaniavsCuba

   Density: 44.0 vs 99.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Lithuania.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Lithuania against Cuba

   Category	Lithuania	Cuba	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	65,300	110,860	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,871,585	11,019,931	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	52,720	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	44.0	99.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	294	1,974	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	90	3,735	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	55.1° N	20.6° N	Would lose