A little knowledge. An empire of 18.

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

   AfghanistanvsSomalia

   Highest peak: 7,492 vs 2,460 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Somalia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Afghanistan against Somalia

   Category	Afghanistan	Somalia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	652,230	637,657	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	41,454,761	18,358,615	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,204	1,557	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	63.6	28.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,492	2,460	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,025	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.3° N	2.6° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   CyprusvsSolomon Islands

   Wealth per person: 59,875 vs 2,599 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Solomon Islands.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cyprus against Solomon Islands

   Category	Cyprus	Solomon Islands	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	9,251	28,896	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,344,976	800,005	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	59,875	2,599	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	145.4	27.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,951	2,335	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	648	5,313	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	34.9° N	9.6° S	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   IsraelvsCameroon

   Wealth per person: 55,301 vs 5,415 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cameroon.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Israel against Cameroon

   Category	Israel	Cameroon	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	21,937	475,440	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,849,000	28,372,687	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	55,301	5,415	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	449.0	59.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,224	4,045	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	273	402	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.9° N	4.5° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   BeninvsSaudi Arabia

   Density: 125.3 vs 15.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Saudi Arabia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Benin against Saudi Arabia

   Category	Benin	Saudi Arabia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	112,622	2,149,690	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,111,034	33,702,731	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,133	71,624	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	125.3	15.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	675	3,000	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	121	2,640	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	10.4° N	23.5° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   GhanavsLaos

   Proximity to equator: 7.0° N vs 19.6° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Laos.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Ghana against Laos

   Category	Ghana	Laos	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	238,533	236,800	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	33,787,914	7,664,993	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,563	9,299	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	141.6	32.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	885	2,817	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	539	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.0° N	19.6° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   South AfricavsEstonia

   Population: 63,212,384 vs 1,370,286 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Estonia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Africa against Estonia

   Category	South Africa	Estonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,219,090	45,228	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	63,212,384	1,370,286	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,212	48,848	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	51.9	30.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,450	318	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,798	3,794	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.2° S	58.6° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Lost17 countries · 3 lives left

   MalawivsMyanmar

   Highest peak: 3,002 vs 5,870 m · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Malawi.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malawi against Myanmar

   Category	Malawi	Myanmar	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	676,578	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	54,133,798	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	5,958	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	178.1	80.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,002	5,870	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,930	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	21.6° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won18 countries · 3 lives left

   LuxembourgvsGermany

   Wealth per person: 152,596 vs 72,262 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Germany.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Luxembourg against Germany

   Category	Luxembourg	Germany	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,586	357,022	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	666,430	83,287,273	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	152,596	72,262	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	257.7	233.3	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	559	2,963	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,389	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.7° N	51.0° N	Would win