A little knowledge. An empire of 15.

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

   New ZealandvsRwanda

   Area: 268,838 vs 26,338 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Rwanda.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for New Zealand against Rwanda

   Category	New Zealand	Rwanda	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	268,838	26,338	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,200,000	13,954,471	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	54,950	3,519	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.3	529.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,724	4,519	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	15,134	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.3° S	1.8° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Lost12 countries · 3 lives left

   Cabo VerdevsSri Lanka

   Coastline: 965 vs 1,340 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Cabo Verde.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Cabo Verde against Sri Lanka

   Category	Cabo Verde	Sri Lanka	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	4,033	65,610	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	522,331	22,037,000	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,251	14,512	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	129.5	335.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,829	2,524	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	965	1,340	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.0° N	7.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won13 countries · 3 lives left

   El SalvadorvsLesotho

   Coastline: 307 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lesotho.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for El Salvador against Lesotho

   Category	El Salvador	Lesotho	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	30,355	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,309,624	2,311,472	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	2,880	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	299.9	76.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	3,482	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	307	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	29.4° S	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won14 countries · 3 lives left

   GuyanavsBurundi

   Wealth per person: 54,774 vs 1,147 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Burundi.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guyana against Burundi

   Category	Guyana	Burundi	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	214,969	27,830	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	826,353	13,689,450	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	54,774	1,147	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	491.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,775	2,685	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	459	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.7° N	3.4° S	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won15 countries · 3 lives left

   Central African RepublicvsEswatini

   Area: 622,984 vs 17,364 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Eswatini.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Central African Republic against Eswatini

   Category	Central African Republic	Eswatini	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	622,984	17,364	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,152,421	1,230,506	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,258	11,309	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.3	70.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,410	1,862	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	26.6° S	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Lost14 countries · 2 lives left

   KenyavsIndia

   Wealth per person: 6,322 vs 9,853 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Kenya.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Kenya against India

   Category	Kenya	India	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	580,367	3,287,263	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	55,339,003	1,438,069,596	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6,322	9,853	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	95.4	437.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,199	8,586	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	536	7,000	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.4° N	22.4° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won15 countries · 2 lives left

   ChadvsSouth Africa

   Proximity to equator: 17.3° N vs 30.2° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered South Africa.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Chad against South Africa

   Category	Chad	South Africa	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,284,000	1,219,090	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,319,064	63,212,384	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,703	15,212	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	15.0	51.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,445	3,450	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,798	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	17.3° N	30.2° S	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won16 countries · 2 lives left

   GermanyvsLuxembourg

   Area: 357,022 vs 2,586 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Luxembourg.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Germany against Luxembourg

   Category	Germany	Luxembourg	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	357,022	2,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	83,287,273	666,430	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,262	152,596	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	233.3	257.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	559	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,389	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.0° N	49.7° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Lost15 countries · 1 life left

   LiberiavsMalaysia

   Density: 49.3 vs 106.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Liberia.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Liberia against Malaysia

   Category	Liberia	Malaysia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	111,369	329,847	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,493,031	35,126,298	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,796	36,497	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	49.3	106.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,447	4,095	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	579	4,675	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	4.4° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won16 countries · 1 life left

    MyanmarvsSouth Korea

    Area: 676,578 vs 99,720 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered South Korea.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Myanmar against South Korea

    Category	Myanmar	South Korea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	676,578	99,720	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	54,133,798	51,712,619	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,958	57,430	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	80.0	518.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,870	1,950	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,930	2,413	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.6° N	36.3° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Lost15 countries · 0 lives left

    ComorosvsTürkiye

    Wealth per person: 3,897 vs 43,196 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Comoros.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Comoros against Türkiye

    Category	Comoros	Türkiye	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,235	783,562	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	850,387	85,325,965	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,897	43,196	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	380.5	108.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,360	5,137	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	340	7,200	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	11.7° S	39.1° N	Would win