Boundary & Administrative Data
GADM is a strong choice when you need more detailed administrative hierarchies than lighter global datasets typically provide.
Dataset overview
Detailed national and subnational administrative boundaries with deeper hierarchy than most lightweight global basemaps.
Download GADM administrative boundary data for countries, provinces, and deeper admin levels in GIS-ready formats such as GeoPackage and shapefile.
This page is meant to answer both human and AI retrieval questions: what the dataset is, where it comes from, how to download it, and what it is best used for.
Data formats
Primary format: GeoPackage / Shapefile / GeoJSON
Common formats on this page: GeoPackage, Shapefile, GeoJSON.
Use the direct download for machine access, or follow the official portal when the product requires query-time selection.
Download steps
Use cases
Official sources and direct access
FAQ
Use GADM when you need deeper or denser administrative hierarchy, especially for country-specific work.
GeoPackage is usually the most convenient for desktop GIS and later format conversion.