A little knowledge. An empire of 20.

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

   JordanvsLiberia

   Density: 128.0 vs 49.3 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Liberia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Jordan against Liberia

   Category	Jordan	Liberia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	89,342	111,369	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	5,493,031	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	1,796	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	128.0	49.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,854	1,447	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	26	579	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.7° N	7.0° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   New ZealandvsMoldova

   Area: 268,838 vs 33,851 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Moldova.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for New Zealand against Moldova

   Category	New Zealand	Moldova	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	268,838	33,851	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,200,000	2,457,783	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	54,950	17,751	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.3	72.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,724	430	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	15,134	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	9	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.3° S	47.5° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   BahrainvsFiji

   Wealth per person: 64,224 vs 14,656 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Fiji.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahrain against Fiji

   Category	Bahrain	Fiji	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	760	18,274	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,577,059	924,145	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	64,224	14,656	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	2,075.1	50.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	135	1,324	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	1,129	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	8	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.0° N	17.8° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   NamibiavsPortugal

   Area: 824,292 vs 92,090 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Portugal.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Namibia against Portugal

   Category	Namibia	Portugal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	824,292	92,090	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,963,095	10,578,174	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,248	49,800	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.6	114.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,573	2,351	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,572	1,793	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° S	40.7° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   GuyanavsLuxembourg

   Area: 214,969 vs 2,586 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Luxembourg.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Guyana against Luxembourg

   Category	Guyana	Luxembourg	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	214,969	2,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	826,353	666,430	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	54,774	152,596	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.8	257.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,775	559	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	49.7° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   JapanvsMauritius

   Population: 124,516,650 vs 1,248,647 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mauritius.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Japan against Mauritius

   Category	Japan	Mauritius	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	377,915	2,040	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	124,516,650	1,248,647	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	52,726	29,403	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	329.5	612.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,776	828	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	29,751	177	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	36.7° N	20.3° S	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   MozambiquevsAustralia

   Density: 42.1 vs 3.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Australia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mozambique against Australia

   Category	Mozambique	Australia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	799,380	7,741,220	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	33,635,160	26,659,922	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,680	72,273	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	42.1	3.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,436	2,228	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,470	25,760	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	14.0° S	23.1° S	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   CyprusvsTürkiye

   Wealth per person: 59,875 vs 43,196 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Türkiye.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cyprus against Türkiye

   Category	Cyprus	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,251	783,562	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	85,325,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	59,875	43,196	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	145.4	108.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	5,137	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	648	7,200	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	39.1° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   FrancevsVenezuela

   Population: 65,925,961 vs 28,300,854 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Venezuela.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for France against Venezuela

   Category	France	Venezuela	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	551,500	912,050	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	65,925,961	28,300,854	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	60,927	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	119.5	31.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,810	4,978	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,427	2,800	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	7.2° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    Guinea-BissauvsUganda

    Density: 59.6 vs 201.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Guinea-Bissau.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Guinea-Bissau against Uganda

    Category	Guinea-Bissau	Uganda	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	36,125	241,038	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,153,339	48,656,601	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,956	3,100	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	59.6	201.9	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	277	5,110	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	350	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.1° N	2.0° N	Would lose