A classic format consisting of at least four files (.shp, .shx, .dbf, .prj). It is compatible with almost all GIS software.
For global analysis, you can download the entire world as a single database on the World Download page . Note that these are very large files. Available Data Formats
This is the most efficient way to get data if you only need a specific region. You can select from over 200 countries on the Country Download page . download gadm data version 36 work
Now the standard format for GADM. It is a single file that can contain multiple layers and is compatible with QGIS and ArcGIS .
Guide to Downloading and Using GADM Data Version 3.6 GADM (Global Administrative Areas) is a high-resolution database of country administrative boundaries used widely in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). While version 4.1 is the latest, remains a critical "workhorse" version for many researchers and developers who require compatibility with legacy projects or specific derived datasets. Where to Download GADM 3.6 Data A classic format consisting of at least four files (
GADM data is organized by levels of subdivision, which allows you to "work" at the specific scale your project requires: Download GADM data (version 3.6)
You can access the GADM 3.6 data directly from the official GADM Old Versions page . Note that these are very large files
For data scientists, GADM provides .rds files that can be read directly into R using the readRDS() function. Understanding Administrative Levels
