A little knowledge. An empire of 14.

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

   VietnamvsNorth Macedonia

   Coastline: 3,444 vs 0 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered North Macedonia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Vietnam against North Macedonia

   Category	Vietnam	North Macedonia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	331,210	25,713	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	100,352,192	1,827,816	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	15,034	25,354	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	303.0	71.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,144	2,764	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,444	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.7° N	41.5° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   BurundivsIceland

   Proximity to equator: 3.4° S vs 64.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Iceland.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Burundi against Iceland

   Category	Burundi	Iceland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	27,830	103,000	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	13,689,450	385,663	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,147	82,257	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	491.9	3.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,685	2,110	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,970	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	3.4° S	64.7° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Lost13 countries · 3 lives left

   MalivsGuyana

   Proximity to equator: 18.6° N vs 2.7° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Mali.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mali against Guyana

   Category	Mali	Guyana	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,240,192	214,969	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	23,769,127	826,353	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,178	54,774	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	3.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,155	2,775	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	459	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	18.6° N	2.7° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won14 countries · 3 lives left

   CzechiavsTogo

   Wealth per person: 56,062 vs 3,572 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Togo.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Czechia against Togo

   Category	Czechia	Togo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	78,867	56,785	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,864,042	8,223,850	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	56,062	3,572	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	137.8	144.8	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,602	986	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	56	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	49.8° N	8.9° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Lost13 countries · 2 lives left

   MoldovavsSlovenia

   Density: 72.6 vs 104.6 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Moldova.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Moldova against Slovenia

   Category	Moldova	Slovenia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	33,851	20,273	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,457,783	2,120,461	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,751	56,151	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	72.6	104.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	430	2,864	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	46.6	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.5° N	46.0° N	Would lose

6. 6
   Round 6Lost12 countries · 1 life left

   Central African RepublicvsThailand

   Coastline: 0 vs 3,219 km · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Central African Republic.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Central African Republic against Thailand

   Category	Central African Republic	Thailand	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	622,984	513,120	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,152,421	71,702,435	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,258	23,598	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.3	139.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,410	2,565	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	0	3,219	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.0° N	15.5° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won13 countries · 1 life left

   DenmarkvsPapua New Guinea

   Wealth per person: 77,425 vs 4,672 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Papua New Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Denmark against Papua New Guinea

   Category	Denmark	Papua New Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	43,094	462,840	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,946,952	10,389,635	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	77,425	4,672	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	138.0	22.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	171	4,509	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,314	5,152	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	55.9° N	5.5° S	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Won14 countries · 1 life left

   New ZealandvsCameroon

   Wealth per person: 54,950 vs 5,415 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cameroon.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for New Zealand against Cameroon

   Category	New Zealand	Cameroon	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	268,838	475,440	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,200,000	28,372,687	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	54,950	5,415	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.3	59.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,724	4,045	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	15,134	402	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.3° S	4.5° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won15 countries · 1 life left

   TajikistanvsCuba

   Highest peak: 7,495 vs 1,974 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cuba.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Tajikistan against Cuba

   Category	Tajikistan	Cuba	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	144,100	110,860	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,389,799	11,019,931	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	4,968	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	72.1	99.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,495	1,974	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	3,735	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	38.3° N	20.6° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Lost14 countries · 0 lives left

    ParaguayvsTunisia

    Population: 6,844,146 vs 12,200,431 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Paraguay.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Paraguay against Tunisia

    Category	Paraguay	Tunisia	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	406,752	163,610	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	6,844,146	12,200,431	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	17,585	14,052	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.8	74.6	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	842	1,544	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	1,148	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.6° S	35.3° N	Would win