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

   AlgeriavsKuwait

   Population: 46,164,219 vs 4,853,420 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Kuwait.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Algeria against Kuwait

   Category	Algeria	Kuwait	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	2,381,740	17,818	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	46,164,219	4,853,420	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,838	53,083	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.4	272.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,908	300	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	998	499	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.4° N	29.4° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   FinlandvsHonduras

   Coastline: 1,250 vs 823 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Honduras.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Finland against Honduras

   Category	Finland	Honduras	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	338,145	112,090	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,583,911	10,644,851	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	63,467	7,184	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.5	95.0	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,328	2,870	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,250	823	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.3° N	14.7° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   United Arab EmiratesvsGuinea-Bissau

   Highest peak: 1,905 vs 277 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guinea-Bissau.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for United Arab Emirates against Guinea-Bissau

   Category	United Arab Emirates	Guinea-Bissau	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	83,600	36,125	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	10,483,751	2,153,339	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	78,020	2,956	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	125.4	59.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	1,905	277	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,318	350	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	23.5° N	12.1° N	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   FrancevsTrinidad and Tobago

   Population: 65,925,961 vs 1,367,510 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Trinidad and Tobago.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for France against Trinidad and Tobago

   Category	France	Trinidad and Tobago	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	551,500	5,128	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	65,925,961	1,367,510	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	60,927	34,652	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	119.5	266.7	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	4,810	940	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	3,427	362	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	46.7° N	10.3° N	Would lose

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   MauritaniavsCyprus

   Coastline: 754 vs 648 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Cyprus.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Mauritania against Cyprus

   Category	Mauritania	Cyprus	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	1,030,700	9,251	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,022,441	1,344,976	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,972	59,875	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	4.9	145.4	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	915	1,951	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	754	648	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	19.4° N	34.9° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   RussiavsLatvia

   Flag colours: 3 vs 2 colours · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Latvia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Russia against Latvia

   Category	Russia	Latvia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	17,098,242	64,589	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	143,826,130	1,883,710	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	44,299	42,784	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	8.4	29.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,642	312	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	37,653	498	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	63.6° N	56.6° N	Would lose

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   TürkiyevsPapua New Guinea

   Population: 85,325,965 vs 10,389,635 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Papua New Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Türkiye against Papua New Guinea

   Category	Türkiye	Papua New Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	783,562	462,840	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	85,325,965	10,389,635	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	43,196	4,672	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	108.9	22.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	5,137	4,509	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	7,200	5,152	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	39.1° N	5.5° S	Would lose

8. 8
   Round 8Lost18 countries · 3 lives left

   DjiboutivsMalaysia

   Proximity to equator: 11.4° N vs 4.4° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Returned to the world: Djibouti.

   Other category comparisons 0 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Djibouti against Malaysia

   Category	Djibouti	Malaysia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	23,200	329,847	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,152,944	35,126,298	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	7,232	36,497	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	49.7	106.5	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	2,021	4,095	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	314	4,675	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	4	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	11.4° N	4.4° N	Would lose