A little knowledge. An empire of 21.

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

   BahrainvsTajikistan

   Wealth per person: 64,224 vs 4,968 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tajikistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Bahrain against Tajikistan

   Category	Bahrain	Tajikistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	760	144,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,577,059	10,389,799	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	64,224	4,968	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	2,075.1	72.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	135	7,495	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	161	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	26.0° N	38.3° N	Would win

2. 2
   Round 2Won14 countries · 4 lives left

   MontenegrovsMalta

   Highest peak: 2,534 vs 253 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Malta.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Montenegro against Malta

   Category	Montenegro	Malta	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	13,812	316	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	623,529	552,747	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	31,863	67,101	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	45.1	1,749.2	Would lose
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	2,534	253	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	293.5	196.8	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	5	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	42.8° N	35.9° N	Would lose

3. 3
   Round 3Won15 countries · 4 lives left

   New ZealandvsArgentina

   Wealth per person: 54,950 vs 30,246 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Argentina.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for New Zealand against Argentina

   Category	New Zealand	Argentina	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	268,838	2,780,400	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	5,200,000	45,538,401	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	54,950	30,246	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.3	16.4	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,724	6,962	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	15,134	4,989	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	45.3° S	31.4° S	Would lose

4. 4
   Round 4Won16 countries · 4 lives left

   PakistanvsTunisia

   Population: 247,504,495 vs 12,200,431 people · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Tunisia.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Pakistan against Tunisia

   Category	Pakistan	Tunisia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	796,095	163,610	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	247,504,495	12,200,431	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	6,019	14,052	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	310.9	74.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	8,611	1,544	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	1,046	1,148	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	2	2	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	27.8° N	35.3° N	Would win

5. 5
   Round 5Won17 countries · 4 lives left

   JordanvsLatvia

   Area: 89,342 vs 64,589 km² · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Latvia.

   Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Jordan against Latvia

   Category	Jordan	Latvia	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	89,342	64,589	Would win
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,439,213	1,883,710	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	11,451	42,784	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	128.0	29.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,854	312	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	26	498	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	30.7° N	56.6° N	Would win

6. 6
   Round 6Won18 countries · 4 lives left

   UruguayvsTurkmenistan

   Wealth per person: 34,546 vs 19,645 int’l $ · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Turkmenistan.

   Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Uruguay against Turkmenistan

   Category	Uruguay	Turkmenistan	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	176,215	488,100	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	3,388,081	7,364,438	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	34,546	19,645	Would win
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	19.2	15.1	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	514	3,139	Would lose
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	660	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	5	Would lose
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	32.9° S	39.9° N	Would win

7. 7
   Round 7Won19 countries · 4 lives left

   Equatorial GuineavsBelarus

   Proximity to equator: 1.6° N vs 53.8° N from the equator · Closer wins ↓

   Conquered Belarus.

   Other category comparisons 4 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Equatorial Guinea against Belarus

   Category	Equatorial Guinea	Belarus	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	28,051	207,600	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	1,847,549	9,178,298	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	16,997	30,860	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	65.9	44.2	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,008	346	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	296	0	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	8	3	Would win
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓ · Chosen	1.6° N	53.8° N	Would win

8. 8
   Round 8Won20 countries · 4 lives left

   MalawivsGuinea

   Highest peak: 3,002 vs 1,752 m · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Guinea.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Malawi against Guinea

   Category	Malawi	Guinea	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	118,484	245,857	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	21,104,482	14,405,468	Would win
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	1,832	4,337	Would lose
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	178.1	58.6	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,002	1,752	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	0	320	Would lose
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	13.4° S	10.7° N	Would lose

9. 9
   Round 9Won21 countries · 4 lives left

   CubavsSenegal

   Coastline: 3,735 vs 531 km · Higher wins ↑

   Conquered Senegal.

   Other category comparisons 2 other winning choices

   All eight categories for Cuba against Senegal

   Category	Cuba	Senegal	Result
   Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	110,860	196,722	Would lose
   Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑	11,019,931	18,077,573	Would lose
   Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑Cuba: World Bank has no 2023 figure for Cuba.	Unavailable	4,782	Unavailable
   Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	99.4	91.9	Would win
   Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	1,974	648	Would win
   Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	3,735	531	Would win
   Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	3	Would tie
   Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	20.6° N	15.2° N	Would lose

10. 10
    Round 10Won22 countries · 4 lives left

    IraqvsQatar

    Population: 45,074,049 vs 2,656,032 people · Higher wins ↑

    Conquered Qatar.

    Other category comparisons 3 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Iraq against Qatar

    Category	Iraq	Qatar	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	438,317	11,586	Would win
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	45,074,049	2,656,032	Would win
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	14,665	129,025	Would lose
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	102.8	229.2	Would lose
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,611	103	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	58	563	Would lose
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	4	2	Would win
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	33.3° N	25.1° N	Would lose

11. 11
    Round 11Lost21 countries · 3 lives left

    OmanvsLibya

    Population: 5,049,269 vs 7,305,659 people · Higher wins ↑

    Returned to the world: Oman.

    Other category comparisons 5 other winning choices

    All eight categories for Oman against Libya

    Category	Oman	Libya	Result
    Areakm² · Higher wins ↑	309,500	1,759,540	Would lose
    Populationpeople · Higher wins ↑ · Chosen	5,049,269	7,305,659	Would lose
    Wealth per personint’l $ · Higher wins ↑	41,980	13,858	Would win
    Densityper km² · Higher wins ↑	16.3	4.2	Would win
    Highest peakm · Higher wins ↑	3,004	2,267	Would win
    Coastlinekm · Higher wins ↑	2,092	1,770	Would win
    Flag colourscolours · Higher wins ↑	3	4	Would lose
    Proximity to equatorfrom the equator · Closer wins ↓	22.1° N	26.1° N	Would win