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Final empireDrag to exploreFollow the journey ↓

Out of lives

A little knowledge. An empire of 99.

99of 174 countries
in the final empire

96 rounds of instinct, surprises, and discovery. This is how the journey unfolded.

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Untimed expedition · Data edition 01051846d672

84Wins
4Losses
8Ties
Explore the final empire · 99 countries
The path through the world

One choice at a time.

96 rounds
Where it began · 12 countries

Mauritania · Hungary · Botswana · Argentina · Australia · Rwanda · Cameroon · Oman · South Sudan · Guinea-Bissau · China · Uzbekistan

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. 41
    Round 41Won53 countries · 4 lives left

    HungaryvsPoland

    Proximity to equator: 47.3° N vs 51.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Poland.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Hungary against Poland
    CategoryHungaryPolandResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑93,028312,685Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑9,592,18636,687,353Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑46,37648,473Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑103.1117.3Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑1,0142,499Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑0440Would lose
    Flag coloursBlocked in Hard · colours · Higher wins ↑32Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen47.3° N51.9° NWould win
  2. 42
    Round 42Won54 countries · 4 lives left

    LuxembourgvsTimor-Leste

    Density: 257.7 vs 93.1 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Timor-Leste.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Luxembourg against Timor-Leste
    CategoryLuxembourgTimor-LesteResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑2,58614,874Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑666,4301,384,286Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑152,5964,811Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen257.793.1Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑5592,963Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑0706Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑34Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓49.7° N8.9° SWould lose
  3. 43
    Round 43Won55 countries · 4 lives left

    EritreavsIsrael

    Proximity to equator: 16.0° N vs 30.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Israel.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Eritrea against Israel
    CategoryEritreaIsraelResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑117,60021,937Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑3,470,3909,849,000Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Eritrea: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Eritrea.Unavailable55,301Unavailable
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑29.5449.0Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑3,0182,224Would win
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑2,234273Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑42Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen16.0° N30.9° NWould win
  4. 44
    Round 44Won56 countries · 4 lives left

    IcelandvsAzerbaijan

    Wealth per person: 82,257 vs 23,671 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Azerbaijan.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Iceland against Azerbaijan
    CategoryIcelandAzerbaijanResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑103,00086,600Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑385,66310,153,958Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen82,25723,671Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑3.7117.3Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑2,1104,466Would lose
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑4,9700Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑34Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓64.7° N40.5° NWould lose
  5. 45
    Round 45Won57 countries · 4 lives left

    BotswanavsUkraine

    Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Ukraine.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Botswana against Ukraine
    CategoryBotswanaUkraineResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑581,730603,550Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑2,480,24437,732,836Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑21,02917,680Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑4.362.5Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑1,4952,061Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑02,782Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen32Would win
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓22.1° S49.6° NWould win
  6. 46
    Round 46Won58 countries · 4 lives left

    LatviavsNamibia

    Density: 29.2 vs 3.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Namibia.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Latvia against Namibia
    CategoryLatviaNamibiaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑64,589824,292Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑1,883,7102,963,095Would lose
    Wealth per personBlocked in Hard · int’l $ · Higher wins ↑42,78411,248Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen29.23.6Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑3122,573Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑4981,572Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑25Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓56.6° N20.6° SWould lose
  7. 47
    Round 47Won59 countries · 4 lives left

    ArgentinavsIndia

    Wealth per person: 30,246 vs 9,853 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered India.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Argentina against India
    CategoryArgentinaIndiaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑2,780,4003,287,263Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑45,538,4011,438,069,596Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen30,2469,853Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑16.4437.5Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑6,9628,586Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑4,9897,000Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑44Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓31.4° S22.4° NWould lose
  8. 48
    Round 48Lost58 countries · 3 lives left

    Papua New GuineavsCentral African Republic

    Area: 462,840 vs 622,984 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Papua New Guinea.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Papua New Guinea against Central African Republic
    CategoryPapua New GuineaCentral African RepublicResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen462,840622,984Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑10,389,6355,152,421Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑4,6721,258Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑22.48.3Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑4,5091,410Would win
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑5,1520Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑45Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓5.5° S7.0° NWould win
  9. 49
    Round 49Won59 countries · 3 lives left

    KenyavsDominican Republic

    Proximity to equator: 0.4° N vs 19.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Dominican Republic.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Kenya against Dominican Republic
    CategoryKenyaDominican RepublicResult
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑580,36748,670Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑55,339,00311,331,265Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑6,32225,861Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑95.4232.8Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑5,1993,098Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑5361,288Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑46Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen0.4° N19.1° NWould win
  10. 50
    Round 50Won60 countries · 3 lives left

    LebanonvsPapua New Guinea

    Wealth per person: 12,585 vs 4,672 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Papua New Guinea.

    Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Lebanon against Papua New Guinea
    CategoryLebanonPapua New GuineaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑10,400462,840Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑5,773,49310,389,635Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen12,5854,672Would win
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑555.122.4Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑3,0884,509Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑2255,152Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑34Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓34.2° N5.5° SWould lose
  11. 51
    Round 51Tied60 countries · 3 lives left

    Republic of the CongovsLaos

    Flag colours: 3 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Laos became contested.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Republic of the Congo against Laos
    CategoryRepublic of the CongoLaosResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑342,000236,800Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑6,182,8857,664,993Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑6,8569,299Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑18.132.4Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑1,0202,817Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑1690Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen33Would tie
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓0.1° N19.6° NWould win
  12. 52
    Round 52Won62 countries · 3 lives left

    AfghanistanvsVietnam

    Area: 652,230 vs 331,210 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Vietnam, Laos.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Afghanistan against Vietnam
    CategoryAfghanistanVietnamResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen652,230331,210Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑41,454,761100,352,192Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑2,20415,034Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑63.6303.0Would lose
    Highest peakBlocked in Hard · m · Higher wins ↑7,4923,144Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑03,444Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑52Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓34.3° N21.7° NWould lose
  13. 53
    Round 53Won63 countries · 3 lives left

    AustraliavsSouth Korea

    Coastline: 25,760 vs 2,413 km · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered South Korea.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Australia against South Korea
    CategoryAustraliaSouth KoreaResult
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑7,741,22099,720Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑26,659,92251,712,619Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑72,27357,430Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑3.4518.6Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑2,2281,950Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen25,7602,413Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑34Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓23.1° S36.3° NWould win
  14. 54
    Round 54Tied63 countries · 3 lives left

    VanuatuvsMyanmar

    Flag colours: 4 vs 4 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Myanmar became contested.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Vanuatu against Myanmar
    CategoryVanuatuMyanmarResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑12,189676,578Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑320,40954,133,798Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑4,2025,958Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑26.380.0Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑1,8775,870Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑2,5281,930Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen44Would tie
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓15.4° S21.6° NWould win
  15. 55
    Round 55Won65 countries · 3 lives left

    MexicovsBulgaria

    Population: 129,739,759 vs 6,446,596 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Bulgaria, Myanmar.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Mexico against Bulgaria
    CategoryMexicoBulgariaResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑1,964,375110,879Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen129,739,7596,446,596Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑25,18838,829Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑66.058.1Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑5,6362,925Would win
    CoastlineBlocked in Hard · km · Higher wins ↑9,330354Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑113Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓23.5° N42.5° NWould win
  16. 56
    Round 56Won66 countries · 3 lives left

    SyriavsChile

    Flag colours: 4 vs 3 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Chile.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Syria against Chile
    CategorySyriaChileResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑187,437756,102Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑23,594,62319,658,835Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Syria: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Syria.Unavailable33,174Unavailable
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑125.926.0Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑2,8146,893Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑1936,435Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen43Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓35.0° N23.4° SWould lose
  17. 57
    Round 57Won67 countries · 3 lives left

    RwandavsThailand

    Highest peak: 4,519 vs 2,565 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Thailand.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Rwanda against Thailand
    CategoryRwandaThailandResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑26,338513,120Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑13,954,47171,702,435Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑3,51923,598Would lose
    DensityBlocked in Hard · per km² · Higher wins ↑529.8139.7Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen4,5192,565Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑03,219Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑33Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓1.8° S15.5° NWould win
  18. 58
    Round 58Won68 countries · 3 lives left

    GermanyvsNew Zealand

    Area: 357,022 vs 268,838 km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered New Zealand.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Germany against New Zealand
    CategoryGermanyNew ZealandResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen357,022268,838Would win
    PopulationBlocked in Hard · people · Higher wins ↑83,287,2735,200,000Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑72,26254,950Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑233.319.3Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑2,9633,724Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑2,38915,134Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑33Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓51.0° N45.3° SWould lose
  19. 59
    Round 59Won69 countries · 3 lives left

    ParaguayvsTunisia

    Flag colours: 6 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Tunisia.

    Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices
    All eight categories for Paraguay against Tunisia
    CategoryParaguayTunisiaResult
    AreaBlocked in Hard · km² · Higher wins ↑406,752163,610Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑6,844,14612,200,431Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑17,58514,052Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑16.874.6Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑8421,544Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑01,148Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen62Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓21.6° S35.3° NWould win
  20. 60
    Round 60Won70 countries · 3 lives left

    SurinamevsIraq

    Wealth per person: 21,128 vs 14,665 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Iraq.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice
    All eight categories for Suriname against Iraq
    CategorySurinameIraqResult
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑163,820438,317Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑628,88645,074,049Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen21,12814,665Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑3.8102.8Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑1,2303,611Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑38658Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑44Would tie
    Proximity to equatorBlocked in Hard · from the equator · Closer wins ↓4.1° N33.3° NWould win

There’s another world in you.