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

   EstoniavsBrazil

   Wealth per person: 48,848 vs 21,193 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Brazil.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Estonia against Brazil

   Category	Estonia	Brazil	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	8,515,770	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	211,140,729	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,848	21,193	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	30.3	24.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	2,994	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,794	7,491	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	12.6° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   AndorravsPoland

   Wealth per person: 71,790 vs 48,473 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Poland.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Andorra against Poland

   Category	Andorra	Poland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	468	312,685	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	80,856	36,687,353	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	71,790	48,473	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	172.8	117.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,946	2,499	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	440	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	51.9° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   NorwayvsJapan

   Wealth per person: 107,768 vs 52,726 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Japan.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Norway against Japan

   Category	Norway	Japan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	323,802	377,915	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,519,601	124,516,650	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	107,768	52,726	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.0	329.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,469	3,776	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	25,148	29,751	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	61.5° N	36.7° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   SyriavsUnited States

   Proximity to equator: 35.0° N vs 39.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered United States.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Syria against United States

   Category	Syria	United States	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	187,437	9,833,517	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,594,623	336,755,052	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	82,587	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.9	34.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,814	6,190	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	19,924	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	35.0° N	39.1° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Lost15 countries · 3 lives left

   North MacedoniavsCosta Rica

   Wealth per person: 25,354 vs 29,248 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: North Macedonia.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for North Macedonia against Costa Rica

   Category	North Macedonia	Costa Rica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	25,713	51,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,827,816	5,105,525	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	25,354	29,248	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	71.1	99.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,764	3,819	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,290	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	41.5° N	10.1° N	Would lose