A little knowledge. An empire of 22.

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

   AustriavsSouth Korea

   Wealth per person: 74,261 vs 57,430 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Korea.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Austria against South Korea

   Category	Austria	South Korea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,871	99,720	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	9,131,761	51,712,619	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	74,261	57,430	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	518.6	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,798	1,950	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	2,413	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	47.7° N	36.3° N	Would lose

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   GeorgiavsSouth Sudan

   Highest peak: 5,193 vs 3,187 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered South Sudan.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Georgia against South Sudan

   Category	Georgia	South Sudan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	69,700	644,329	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,715,483	11,483,374	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑South Sudan: World Bank has no 2023 figure for South Sudan.	25,093	Unavailable	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	53.3	17.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,193	3,187	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	310	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	6	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.4° N	7.1° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   MauritaniavsArgentina

   Proximity to equator: 19.4° N vs 31.4° S from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Argentina.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mauritania against Argentina

   Category	Mauritania	Argentina	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,030,700	2,780,400	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,022,441	45,538,401	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,972	30,246	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.9	16.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	915	6,962	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	754	4,989	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	19.4° N	31.4° S	Would win

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   EstoniavsSerbia

   Wealth per person: 48,848 vs 29,777 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Serbia.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Estonia against Serbia

   Category	Estonia	Serbia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	45,228	77,474	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,370,286	6,623,183	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	48,848	29,777	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	30.3	85.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	318	2,169	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,794	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	58.6° N	44.2° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   GuineavsMorocco

   Proximity to equator: 10.7° N vs 31.9° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Morocco.

   Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

   All eight categories for Guinea against Morocco

   Category	Guinea	Morocco	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	245,857	446,550	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	14,405,468	37,712,505	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	4,337	9,903	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	58.6	84.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,752	4,165	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	320	1,835	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	10.7° N	31.9° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   FinlandvsSuriname

   Wealth per person: 63,467 vs 21,128 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Suriname.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Finland against Suriname

   Category	Finland	Suriname	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	338,145	163,820	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,583,911	628,886	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	63,467	21,128	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.5	3.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,328	1,230	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,250	386	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.3° N	4.1° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   NamibiavsKuwait

   Area: 824,292 vs 17,818 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Namibia against Kuwait

   Category	Namibia	Kuwait	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	824,292	17,818	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	2,963,095	4,853,420	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,248	53,083	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	3.6	272.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,573	300	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,572	499	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	4	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° S	29.4° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   ChilevsMaldives

   Area: 756,102 vs 298 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Maldives.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Chile against Maldives

   Category	Chile	Maldives	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	756,102	298	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	19,658,835	525,994	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	33,174	24,807	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	26.0	1,765.1	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	6,893	5	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	6,435	644	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.4° S	3.3° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   FijivsSomalia

   Density: 50.6 vs 28.8 per km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Somalia.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Fiji against Somalia

   Category	Fiji	Somalia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	18,274	637,657	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	924,145	18,358,615	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,656	1,557	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	50.6	28.8	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,324	2,460	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,129	3,025	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	17.8° S	2.6° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    KazakhstanvsGuatemala

    Highest peak: 7,010 vs 4,220 m · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Guatemala.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Kazakhstan against Guatemala

    Category	Kazakhstan	Guatemala	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,724,900	108,889	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	20,330,104	18,124,838	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	38,547	13,752	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	7.5	166.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,010	4,220	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	400	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	9	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	48.5° N	15.0° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Won23 countries · 4 lives left

    ComorosvsEquatorial Guinea

    Density: 380.5 vs 65.9 per km² · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Equatorial Guinea.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Comoros against Equatorial Guinea

    Category	Comoros	Equatorial Guinea	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,235	28,051	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	850,387	1,847,549	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	3,897	16,997	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	380.5	65.9	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,360	3,008	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	340	296	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	8	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	11.7° S	1.6° N	Would lose

12. 12
    Round 12Lost22 countries · 3 lives left

    CambodiavsIndia

    Wealth per person: 7,437 vs 9,853 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Cambodia.

    Other category comparisons 1 other winning choice

    All eight categories for Cambodia against India

    Category	Cambodia	India	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	181,035	3,287,263	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	17,423,880	1,438,069,596	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	7,437	9,853	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	96.2	437.5	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,810	8,586	Would lose
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	443	7,000	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	12.6° N	22.4° N	Would win