A little knowledge. An empire of 26.

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

   EstoniavsBahamas

   Wealth per person: 48,848 vs 39,122 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Bahamas.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Estonia against Bahamas

   Category	Estonia	Bahamas	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	13,880	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	399,440	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,848	39,122	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	30.3	28.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	64	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,794	3,542	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	24.7° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   ItalyvsMalaysia

   Highest peak: 4,748 vs 4,095 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Malaysia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Italy against Malaysia

   Category	Italy	Malaysia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	301,340	329,847	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	58,984,216	35,126,298	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,350	36,497	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	195.7	106.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,748	4,095	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,600	4,675	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.1° N	4.4° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   ArmeniavsZimbabwe

   Highest peak: 4,090 vs 2,592 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Zimbabwe.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Armenia against Zimbabwe

   Category	Armenia	Zimbabwe	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	29,743	390,757	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,964,300	16,340,822	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,552	5,796	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.7	41.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,090	2,592	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.6° N	19.0° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   PalestinevsKuwait

   Density: 830.5 vs 272.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Palestine against Kuwait

   Category	Palestine	Kuwait	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	6,220	17,818	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,165,775	4,853,420	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,179	53,083	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	830.5	272.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	300	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	40	499	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.1° N	29.4° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   CroatiavsMadagascar

   Wealth per person: 47,760 vs 1,810 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Madagascar.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Croatia against Madagascar

   Category	Croatia	Madagascar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	56,594	587,041	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,859,686	31,195,932	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	47,760	1,810	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	68.2	53.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,831	2,876	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	5,835	4,828	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.8° N	18.4° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   GermanyvsGuinea

   Population: 83,287,273 vs 14,405,468 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Germany against Guinea

   Category	Germany	Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	357,022	245,857	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	83,287,273	14,405,468	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,262	4,337	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	233.3	58.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,963	1,752	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,389	320	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	51.0° N	10.7° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   SyriavsUganda

   Coastline: 193 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Uganda.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Syria against Uganda

   Category	Syria	Uganda	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	187,437	241,038	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,594,623	48,656,601	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.	Unavailable	3,100	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.9	201.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,814	5,110	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	193	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	35.0° N	2.0° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   Equatorial GuineavsTogo

   Proximity to equator: 1.6° N vs 8.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Togo.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against Togo

   Category	Equatorial Guinea	Togo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,051	56,785	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	8,223,850	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,997	3,572	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	144.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	986	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	56	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.6° N	8.9° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   DR CongovsBelize

   Population: 105,789,731 vs 411,106 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Belize.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for DR Congo against Belize

   Category	DR Congo	Belize	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,344,858	22,966	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	105,789,731	411,106	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,732	13,741	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.1	17.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,110	1,124	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37	386	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	12	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.9° S	17.0° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    UkrainevsNorth Macedonia

    Population: 37,732,836 vs 1,827,816 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered North Macedonia.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Ukraine against North Macedonia

    Category	Ukraine	North Macedonia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	603,550	25,713	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	37,732,836	1,827,816	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,680	25,354	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	62.5	71.1	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,061	2,764	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,782	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.6° N	41.5° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    SingaporevsArgentina

    Density: 8,230.4 vs 16.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Argentina.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Singapore against Argentina

    Category	Singapore	Argentina	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	719	2,780,400	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,917,648	45,538,401	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	144,728	30,246	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8,230.4	16.4	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	166	6,962	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	4,989	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.4° N	31.4° S	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Won24 countries · 4 lives left

    IndiavsSaudi Arabia

    Population: 1,438,069,596 vs 33,702,731 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Saudi Arabia.

    Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

    All eight categories for India against Saudi Arabia

    Category	India	Saudi Arabia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	3,287,263	2,149,690	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,438,069,596	33,702,731	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,853	71,624	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	437.5	15.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,586	3,000	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,000	2,640	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.4° N	23.5° N	Would win

13. 13
    Round 13Won25 countries · 4 lives left

    EstoniavsMorocco

    Wealth per person: 48,848 vs 9,903 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Morocco.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Estonia against Morocco

    Category	Estonia	Morocco	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	446,550	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	37,712,505	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,848	9,903	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	30.3	84.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	4,165	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,794	1,835	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	31.9° N	Would lose

14. 14
    Round 14Won26 countries · 4 lives left

    BahamasvsParaguay

    Wealth per person: 39,122 vs 17,585 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Paraguay.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Bahamas against Paraguay

    Category	Bahamas	Paraguay	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	406,752	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	6,844,146	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	39,122	17,585	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	16.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	842	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,542	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	21.6° S	Would lose

15. 15
    Round 15Won27 countries · 4 lives left

    ItalyvsJordan

    Population: 58,984,216 vs 11,439,213 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Jordan.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Italy against Jordan

    Category	Italy	Jordan	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	301,340	89,342	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	58,984,216	11,439,213	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,350	11,451	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	195.7	128.0	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,748	1,854	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,600	26	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.1° N	30.7° N	Would lose

16. 16
    Round 16Lost26 countries · 3 lives left

    MalaysiavsColombia

    Proximity to equator: 4.4° N vs 3.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Returned to the world: Malaysia.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Malaysia against Colombia

    Category	Malaysia	Colombia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	329,847	1,138,910	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	35,126,298	52,321,152	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	36,497	21,282	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	106.5	45.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,095	5,730	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,675	3,208	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	4.4° N	3.4° N	Would lose