A little knowledge. An empire of 18.

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

   MaltavsEstonia

   Wealth per person: 67,101 vs 48,848 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malta against Estonia

   Category	Malta	Estonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	316	45,228	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	552,747	1,370,286	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	67,101	48,848	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	1,749.2	30.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	253	318	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	196.8	3,794	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.9° N	58.6° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   SyriavsAzerbaijan

   Proximity to equator: 35.0° N vs 40.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Azerbaijan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Syria against Azerbaijan

   Category	Syria	Azerbaijan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	187,437	86,600	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,594,623	10,153,958	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	23,671	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.9	117.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,814	4,466	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	35.0° N	40.5° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   MyanmarvsDR Congo

   Coastline: 1,930 vs 37 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered DR Congo.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Myanmar against DR Congo

   Category	Myanmar	DR Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	676,578	2,344,858	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	54,133,798	105,789,731	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,958	1,732	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	80.0	45.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,870	5,110	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,930	37	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.6° N	1.9° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   AlgeriavsDjibouti

   Area: 2,381,740 vs 23,200 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Djibouti.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Algeria against Djibouti

   Category	Algeria	Djibouti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,381,740	23,200	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	46,164,219	1,152,944	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,838	7,232	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.4	49.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,908	2,021	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	998	314	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.4° N	11.4° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   Sierra LeonevsEthiopia

   Density: 117.9 vs 116.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ethiopia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Sierra Leone against Ethiopia

   Category	Sierra Leone	Ethiopia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	71,740	1,104,300	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	8,460,512	128,691,692	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,371	3,063	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	117.9	116.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,948	4,550	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	8.7° N	8.5° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   ZambiavsTimor-Leste

   Area: 752,618 vs 14,874 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Timor-Leste.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Zambia against Timor-Leste

   Category	Zambia	Timor-Leste	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	752,618	14,874	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	20,723,965	1,384,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,080	4,811	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.5	93.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,330	2,963	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	706	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.7° S	8.9° S	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   MozambiquevsTurkmenistan

   Proximity to equator: 14.0° S vs 39.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Turkmenistan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mozambique against Turkmenistan

   Category	Mozambique	Turkmenistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	799,380	488,100	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	33,635,160	7,364,438	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,680	19,645	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	42.1	15.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,436	3,139	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,470	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	5	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	14.0° S	39.9° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   MoroccovsTürkiye

   Density: 84.5 vs 108.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Morocco.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Morocco against Türkiye

   Category	Morocco	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	446,550	783,562	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	37,712,505	85,325,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,903	43,196	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	84.5	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,165	5,137	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,835	7,200	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	31.9° N	39.1° N	Would win