https://geodata.ucdavis.edu/gadm/gadm3.6/shp/gadm36_$COUNTRY_shp.zip
The latest version of GADM, version 36, offers several improvements and updates over previous versions. Some of the key features and benefits of using GADM data version 36 include:
# For GeoPackage library(sf) gadm <- st_read("gadm36_FRA.gpkg", layer = "ADM_ADM_1") # For RDS gadm <- readRDS("gadm36_FRA_1_rds.rds")
Given GADM creator Robert J. Hijmans’ background, the R data formats are first-class citizens. The data is provided in direct binary formats for R’s sp and sf spatial packages, allowing immediate use in R’s powerful geospatial ecosystem. download gadm data version 36 work
Do not run spatial queries on global datasets if you only need one region. Use a definition query or filter by attribute (e.g., NAME_1 = 'California' ) to isolate your study area immediately.
Smaller local governance levels like municipalities, communes, and wards (availability varies heavily by country). How to Work with GADM 3.6 Data in GIS Software
Downloading data for a single country saves bandwidth and processing power. Navigate to the official GADM website ( gadm.org ). Go to the section. https://geodata
Navigate to the official GADM website (gadm.org). Click on the "Download" tab. Look for the link pointing to "GADM version 3.6" or access the direct legacy URL provided on their site. 2. Select Your Country and Format
A Complete Guide to Downloading and Working with GADM Data Version 3.6
belgium <- gadm(country = "BEL", level = 1, version = "3.6", path = tempdir()) The data is provided in direct binary formats
Specialized format optimized for R spatial packages like sf and sp .
QGIS is a free and open-source geographic information system that handles all GADM formats natively.
✅ Download from the legacy /download_world36.html page ✅ Verify MD5 checksum ✅ Prefer GeoPackage over Shapefile ✅ Load with sf (R), GeoPandas (Python), or QGIS ✅ Check encoding (UTF-8) if text appears broken ✅ Cite correctly ✅ Remember disputed boundaries disclaimer