A little knowledge. An empire of 14.

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

   PakistanvsMali

   Area: 796,095 vs 1,240,192 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Pakistan.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Pakistan against Mali

   Category	Pakistan	Mali	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	796,095	1,240,192	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	247,504,495	23,769,127	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,019	3,178	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	310.9	19.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,611	1,155	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,046	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.8° N	18.6° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won12 countries · 3 lives left

   United KingdomvsRomania

   Wealth per person: 60,787 vs 45,982 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Romania.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United Kingdom against Romania

   Category	United Kingdom	Romania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	243,610	238,391	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	68,526,000	19,061,062	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	60,787	45,982	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	281.3	80.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,345	2,544	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	12,429	225	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	52.5° N	45.7° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won13 countries · 3 lives left

   BahrainvsFrance

   Wealth per person: 64,224 vs 60,927 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered France.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahrain against France

   Category	Bahrain	France	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	760	551,500	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,577,059	65,925,961	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	64,224	60,927	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	2,075.1	119.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	135	4,810	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	3,427	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.0° N	46.7° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won14 countries · 3 lives left

   EritreavsVanuatu

   Area: 117,600 vs 12,189 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Vanuatu.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Eritrea against Vanuatu

   Category	Eritrea	Vanuatu	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	117,600	12,189	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,470,390	320,409	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	Unavailable	4,202	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	29.5	26.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,018	1,877	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,234	2,528	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	16.0° N	15.4° S	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won15 countries · 3 lives left

   BahamasvsNorway

   Density: 28.8 vs 17.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Norway.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Bahamas against Norway

   Category	Bahamas	Norway	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,880	323,802	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	399,440	5,519,601	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	39,122	107,768	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	28.8	17.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	64	2,469	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,542	25,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	24.7° N	61.5° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Lost14 countries · 2 lives left

   ParaguayvsSudan

   Highest peak: 842 vs 3,042 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Paraguay.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Paraguay against Sudan

   Category	Paraguay	Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	406,752	1,861,484	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,844,146	50,042,791	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,585	2,423	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.8	26.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	842	3,042	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	853	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.6° S	16.6° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Lost13 countries · 1 life left

   Equatorial GuineavsNicaragua

   Area: 28,051 vs 130,370 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Equatorial Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against Nicaragua

   Category	Equatorial Guinea	Nicaragua	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	28,051	130,370	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	6,823,613	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,997	8,327	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	52.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	2,085	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	910	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	10	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.6° N	12.6° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won14 countries · 1 life left

   MaldivesvsUkraine

   Density: 1,765.1 vs 62.5 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ukraine.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Maldives against Ukraine

   Category	Maldives	Ukraine	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	298	603,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	525,994	37,732,836	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,807	17,680	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,765.1	62.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5	2,061	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	644	2,782	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	3.3° N	49.6° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won15 countries · 1 life left

   AndorravsCosta Rica

   Wealth per person: 71,790 vs 29,248 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Costa Rica.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Andorra against Costa Rica

   Category	Andorra	Costa Rica	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	468	51,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	80,856	5,105,525	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	71,790	29,248	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	172.8	99.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,946	3,819	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,290	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	7	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.5° N	10.1° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Lost14 countries · 0 lives left

    El SalvadorvsIsrael

    Population: 6,309,624 vs 9,849,000 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: El Salvador.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for El Salvador against Israel

    Category	El Salvador	Israel	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,041	21,937	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6,309,624	9,849,000	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	12,667	55,301	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	299.9	449.0	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,730	2,224	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	307	273	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.9° N	30.9° N	Would win