A little knowledge. An empire of 22.

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

   GambiavsAfghanistan

   Density: 238.7 vs 63.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Afghanistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Gambia against Afghanistan

   Category	Gambia	Afghanistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	11,300	652,230	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,697,845	41,454,761	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,292	2,204	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	238.7	63.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	63	7,492	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	80	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.6° N	34.3° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   AlbaniavsMalta

   Area: 28,748 vs 316 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Malta.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Albania against Malta

   Category	Albania	Malta	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	28,748	316	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,411,658	552,747	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,848	67,101	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	83.9	1,749.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,764	253	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	196.8	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	40.7° N	35.9° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   Republic of the CongovsBurundi

   Coastline: 169 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Burundi.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Republic of the Congo against Burundi

   Category	Republic of the Congo	Burundi	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	342,000	27,830	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	6,182,885	13,689,450	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,856	1,147	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	18.1	491.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,020	2,685	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	169	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	0.1° N	3.4° S	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   SomaliavsLithuania

   Population: 18,358,615 vs 2,871,585 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Lithuania.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Somalia against Lithuania

   Category	Somalia	Lithuania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	637,657	65,300	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	18,358,615	2,871,585	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,557	52,720	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	28.8	44.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,460	294	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,025	90	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	2.6° N	55.1° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   IcelandvsMozambique

   Wealth per person: 82,257 vs 1,680 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Mozambique.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Iceland against Mozambique

   Category	Iceland	Mozambique	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	103,000	799,380	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	385,663	33,635,160	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	82,257	1,680	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.7	42.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,110	2,436	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,970	2,470	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	64.7° N	14.0° S	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   IrelandvsQatar

   Coastline: 1,448 vs 563 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Qatar.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ireland against Qatar

   Category	Ireland	Qatar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	70,273	11,586	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,311,538	2,656,032	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	133,440	129,025	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	75.6	229.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,041	103	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,448	563	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	53.1° N	25.1° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   MontenegrovsHaiti

   Wealth per person: 31,863 vs 3,265 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Haiti.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Montenegro against Haiti

   Category	Montenegro	Haiti	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,812	27,750	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	623,529	11,637,398	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	31,863	3,265	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.1	419.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,534	2,674	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	293.5	1,771	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	7	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.8° N	19.2° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   KuwaitvsLaos

   Wealth per person: 53,083 vs 9,299 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Laos.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kuwait against Laos

   Category	Kuwait	Laos	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,818	236,800	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	4,853,420	7,664,993	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	53,083	9,299	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	272.4	32.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	300	2,817	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	499	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° N	19.6° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   CameroonvsTurkmenistan

   Proximity to equator: 4.5° N vs 39.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Turkmenistan.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cameroon against Turkmenistan

   Category	Cameroon	Turkmenistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	475,440	488,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	28,372,687	7,364,438	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,415	19,645	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	59.7	15.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,045	3,139	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	402	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	4.5° N	39.9° N	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    Solomon IslandsvsBahamas

    Highest peak: 2,335 vs 64 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Bahamas.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Solomon Islands against Bahamas

    Category	Solomon Islands	Bahamas	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,896	13,880	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	800,005	399,440	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,599	39,122	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	27.7	28.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,335	64	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	5,313	3,542	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	9.6° S	24.7° N	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    NigeriavsSouth Sudan

    Population: 227,882,945 vs 11,483,374 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered South Sudan.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Nigeria against South Sudan

    Category	Nigeria	South Sudan	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	923,768	644,329	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	227,882,945	11,483,374	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	8,712	Unavailable	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	246.7	17.8	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,419	3,187	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	853	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	6	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	9.4° N	7.1° N	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Lost22 countries · 3 lives left

    JordanvsDominican Republic

    Highest peak: 1,854 vs 3,098 m · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Jordan.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Jordan against Dominican Republic

    Category	Jordan	Dominican Republic	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	89,342	48,670	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	11,331,265	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	25,861	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	128.0	232.8	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,854	3,098	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	26	1,288	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.7° N	19.1° N	Would lose