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

   BotswanavsTrinidad and Tobago

   Area: 581,730 vs 5,128 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Trinidad and Tobago.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Botswana against Trinidad and Tobago

   Category	Botswana	Trinidad and Tobago	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	581,730	5,128	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,480,244	1,367,510	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	21,029	34,652	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.3	266.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,495	940	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	362	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° S	10.3° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   NepalvsMontenegro

   Highest peak: 8,849 vs 2,534 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Montenegro.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Nepal against Montenegro

   Category	Nepal	Montenegro	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	147,181	13,812	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	29,694,614	623,529	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,400	31,863	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	201.8	45.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8,849	2,534	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	293.5	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.0° N	42.8° N	Would win

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   SingaporevsNigeria

   Density: 8,230.4 vs 246.7 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Nigeria.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Singapore against Nigeria

   Category	Singapore	Nigeria	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	719	923,768	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,917,648	227,882,945	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	144,728	8,712	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	8,230.4	246.7	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	166	2,419	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	193	853	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	1.4° N	9.4° N	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   AlbaniavsPoland

   Proximity to equator: 40.7° N vs 51.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Poland.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Albania against Poland

   Category	Albania	Poland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,748	312,685	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,411,658	36,687,353	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	24,848	48,473	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	83.9	117.3	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,764	2,499	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	362	440	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	40.7° N	51.9° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   MyanmarvsIreland

   Population: 54,133,798 vs 5,311,538 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Ireland.

   Other category comparisons 6 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Myanmar against Ireland

   Category	Myanmar	Ireland	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	676,578	70,273	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	54,133,798	5,311,538	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	5,958	133,440	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	80.0	75.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,870	1,041	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,930	1,448	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	21.6° N	53.1° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   VenezuelavsEswatini

   Population: 28,300,854 vs 1,230,506 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Eswatini.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Venezuela against Eswatini

   Category	Venezuela	Eswatini	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	912,050	17,364	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	28,300,854	1,230,506	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Venezuela: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Venezuela.	Unavailable	11,309	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	31.0	70.9	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,978	1,862	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,800	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	7.2° N	26.6° S	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   NorwayvsCuba

   Area: 323,802 vs 110,860 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cuba.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Norway against Cuba

   Category	Norway	Cuba	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	323,802	110,860	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,519,601	11,019,931	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	107,768	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	17.0	99.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,469	1,974	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	25,148	3,735	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	61.5° N	20.6° N	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   LesothovsZimbabwe

   Flag colours: 4 vs 6 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Returned to the world: Lesotho.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Lesotho against Zimbabwe

   Category	Lesotho	Zimbabwe	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	30,355	390,757	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,311,472	16,340,822	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	2,880	5,796	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	76.1	41.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,482	2,592	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	0	Would tie
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	4	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	29.4° S	19.0° S	Would lose