A little knowledge. An empire of 23.

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

   ZimbabwevsTürkiye

   Proximity to equator: 19.0° S vs 39.1° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Türkiye.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Zimbabwe against Türkiye

   Category	Zimbabwe	Türkiye	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	390,757	783,562	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	16,340,822	85,325,965	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,796	43,196	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	41.8	108.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,592	5,137	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	7,200	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	19.0° S	39.1° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   MoroccovsCyprus

   Population: 37,712,505 vs 1,344,976 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cyprus.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Morocco against Cyprus

   Category	Morocco	Cyprus	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	446,550	9,251	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	37,712,505	1,344,976	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,903	59,875	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	84.5	145.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,165	1,951	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,835	648	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	3	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	31.9° N	34.9° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   LaosvsBrunei

   Area: 236,800 vs 5,765 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Brunei.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Laos against Brunei

   Category	Laos	Brunei	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	236,800	5,765	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	7,664,993	458,949	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	9,299	85,103	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	32.4	79.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,817	1,850	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	161	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.6° N	4.5° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   KuwaitvsUnited States

   Density: 272.4 vs 34.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered United States.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Kuwait against United States

   Category	Kuwait	United States	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,818	9,833,517	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	4,853,420	336,755,052	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	53,083	82,587	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	272.4	34.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	300	6,190	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	499	19,924	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° N	39.1° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   TanzaniavsAlbania

   Area: 947,300 vs 28,748 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Albania.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Tanzania against Albania

   Category	Tanzania	Albania	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	947,300	28,748	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	66,617,606	2,411,658	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,022	24,848	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	70.3	83.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,895	2,764	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,424	362	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	5.5° S	40.7° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   South KoreavsDR Congo

   Wealth per person: 57,430 vs 1,732 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered DR Congo.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for South Korea against DR Congo

   Category	South Korea	DR Congo	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	99,720	2,344,858	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	51,712,619	105,789,731	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	57,430	1,732	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	518.6	45.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,950	5,110	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,413	37	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	36.3° N	1.9° S	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   FrancevsFinland

   Area: 551,500 vs 338,145 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Finland.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for France against Finland

   Category	France	Finland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	551,500	338,145	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	65,925,961	5,583,911	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,927	63,467	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	119.5	16.5	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,810	1,328	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,427	1,250	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	63.3° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   Côte d’IvoirevsGreece

   Proximity to equator: 7.5° N vs 39.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Greece.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Côte d’Ivoire against Greece

   Category	Côte d’Ivoire	Greece	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	322,463	131,957	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	31,165,654	10,407,351	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,243	42,614	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.6	78.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	2,917	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	515	13,676	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	7.5° N	39.8° N	Would win

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   BelizevsSingapore

   Area: 22,966 vs 719 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Singapore.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Belize against Singapore

   Category	Belize	Singapore	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	22,966	719	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	411,106	5,917,648	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,741	144,728	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.9	8,230.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,124	166	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	386	193	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	12	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.0° N	1.4° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    MalawivsUruguay

    Density: 178.1 vs 19.2 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Uruguay.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Malawi against Uruguay

    Category	Malawi	Uruguay	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	176,215	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	3,388,081	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	34,546	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	178.1	19.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,002	514	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	660	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	32.9° S	Would win

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    EswatinivsIceland

    Population: 1,230,506 vs 385,663 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Iceland.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Eswatini against Iceland

    Category	Eswatini	Iceland	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,364	103,000	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,230,506	385,663	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,309	82,257	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	70.9	3.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,862	2,110	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	4,970	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	3	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.6° S	64.7° N	Would win

12. 12
    Round 12Won24 countries · 4 lives left

    GuatemalavsUzbekistan

    Proximity to equator: 15.0° N vs 41.5° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

    Conquered Uzbekistan.

    Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Guatemala against Uzbekistan

    Category	Guatemala	Uzbekistan	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	108,889	447,400	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	18,124,838	35,652,307	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	13,752	11,679	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	166.5	79.7	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,220	4,643	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	400	0	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	9	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	15.0° N	41.5° N	Would win

13. 13
    Round 13Lost23 countries · 3 lives left

    ZimbabwevsKenya

    Wealth per person: 5,796 vs 6,322 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Zimbabwe.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Zimbabwe against Kenya

    Category	Zimbabwe	Kenya	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	390,757	580,367	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	16,340,822	55,339,003	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,796	6,322	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	41.8	95.4	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,592	5,199	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	536	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	6	4	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.0° S	0.4° N	Would lose