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

   ArgentinavsBrazil

   Wealth per person: 30,246 vs 21,193 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Brazil.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Argentina against Brazil

   Category	Argentina	Brazil	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,780,400	8,515,770	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	45,538,401	211,140,729	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	30,246	21,193	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.4	24.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,962	2,994	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	4,989	7,491	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	31.4° S	12.6° S	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   Cabo VerdevsMontenegro

   Coastline: 965 vs 293.5 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Montenegro.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cabo Verde against Montenegro

   Category	Cabo Verde	Montenegro	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	4,033	13,812	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	522,331	623,529	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	10,251	31,863	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	129.5	45.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,829	2,534	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	965	293.5	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	15.0° N	42.8° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   MalivsGambia

   Area: 1,240,192 vs 11,300 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Gambia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mali against Gambia

   Category	Mali	Gambia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,240,192	11,300	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,769,127	2,697,845	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,178	3,292	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	238.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,155	63	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	80	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	18.6° N	13.6° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   United Arab EmiratesvsIndia

   Wealth per person: 78,020 vs 9,853 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered India.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United Arab Emirates against India

   Category	United Arab Emirates	India	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,600	3,287,263	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,483,751	1,438,069,596	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	78,020	9,853	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.4	437.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,905	8,586	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,318	7,000	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	22.4° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   IranvsRomania

   Proximity to equator: 32.1° N vs 45.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Romania.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Iran against Romania

   Category	Iran	Romania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,648,195	238,391	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	90,608,707	19,061,062	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	18,933	45,982	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	55.0	80.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,625	2,544	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,440	225	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	32.1° N	45.7° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   MexicovsAlgeria

   Coastline: 9,330 vs 998 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Algeria.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mexico against Algeria

   Category	Mexico	Algeria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,964,375	2,381,740	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	129,739,759	46,164,219	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	25,188	16,838	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	66.0	19.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,636	2,908	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	9,330	998	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	11	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	27.4° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   AustraliavsGreece

   Area: 7,741,220 vs 131,957 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Greece.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Australia against Greece

   Category	Australia	Greece	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,741,220	131,957	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	26,659,922	10,407,351	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	72,273	42,614	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.4	78.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,228	2,917	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	25,760	13,676	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.1° S	39.8° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   RwandavsCanada

   Density: 529.8 vs 4.0 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Canada.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Rwanda against Canada

   Category	Rwanda	Canada	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	26,338	9,984,670	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,954,471	40,049,088	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,519	64,962	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	529.8	4.0	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,519	5,959	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	202,080	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.8° S	58.8° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   MadagascarvsParaguay

   Coastline: 4,828 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Paraguay.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Madagascar against Paraguay

   Category	Madagascar	Paraguay	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	587,041	406,752	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,195,932	6,844,146	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,810	17,585	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	53.1	16.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,876	842	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4,828	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	18.4° S	21.6° S	Would win

10. 10
    Round 10Lost20 countries · 3 lives left

    EritreavsEcuador

    Density: 29.5 vs 63.4 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Eritrea.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Eritrea against Ecuador

    Category	Eritrea	Ecuador	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	117,600	283,561	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,470,390	17,980,083	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.	Unavailable	15,907	Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	29.5	63.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,018	6,267	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,234	2,237	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	11	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	16.0° N	1.2° S	Would lose