To download GADM data version 3.6, visit the GADM version 3.6 download page . While version 4.1 is the current standard, version 3.6 remains available for researchers needing consistency with previous studies. How to Download GADM v3.6
By Country (Recommended): Best for specific regions to avoid massive file sizes. Use the Country Download Selector to pick your country and preferred format.
Global Dataset: Available as a single GeoPackage (the current standard format) or as a shapefile.
Layered Data: You can download specific layers (0–5) representing different levels of administrative subdivision.
Available Formats: GeoPackage (.gpkg), Shapefile, KMZ (for Google Earth), and RData (for R spatial objects). Recommended Research Papers
GADM data is a standard in geospatial research for defining administrative boundaries. Notable papers and datasets utilizing GADM include: Download GADM data (version 3.6) download gadm data version 36 work
Downloading and Working with GADM Data Version 3.6 GADM (Global Administrative Areas) is a high-resolution spatial database providing administrative boundaries for all countries and their subdivisions. While newer versions exist, Version 3.6 remains widely used in academic research and historical GIS analysis for its comprehensive and standardized administrative levels. Where to Download GADM 3.6 Data
To access Version 3.6, you must navigate to the GADM Old Versions page. From there, you have two primary options for obtaining the data:
By Country (Recommended): This is the most efficient method if you only need data for specific regions. You can select a country from an alphabetical list and download its boundaries in various formats.
Whole World: For global analysis, you can download the entire world as a single database. Note that these files are very large and may take significant time to download. Available Data Formats
Version 3.6 data is available in several formats to suit different software needs: Download GADM data (version 3.6) To download GADM data version 3
Although the current stable release of the Global Administrative Areas (GADM)
database is version 4.1, many researchers and GIS professionals still require Version 3.6
for consistency in long-term projects or historical comparisons. Step 1: Access the Version 3.6 Download Page GADM maintains a dedicated section for its legacy data. GADM Old Versions page to find direct links for Version 3.6. You can choose between two main download methods: By Country (Recommended): GADM Country Download (v3.6)
portal to select a specific nation and download its administrative boundaries directly. Entire World: Access the World Download (v3.6)
page for the full global dataset. Note that these are very large files (e.g., 405MB for a single geodatabase) and may take significant time to download. Step 2: Choose Your File Format Option B: Direct base URLs for v3
GADM 3.6 is available in several formats compatible with various software: GeoPackage The current standard format, suitable for Shapefile (.shp): The traditional format used by most GIS software. R Spatial Objects (.rds):
Specifically formatted for use in the R programming language. Google Earth (.kmz): For viewing boundaries directly in Google Earth Step 3: Programmatic and Automation Options
For users working in data science environments, version 3.6 can be accessed via scripts: Download GADM data (version 3.6)
This content is structured as a technical tutorial or blog post, suitable for GIS professionals, data analysts, or researchers.
https://biogeo.ucdavis.edu/data/gadm3.6/gpkg/gadm36_<country_code>.gpkghttps://biogeo.ucdavis.edu/data/gadm3.6/shp/gadm36_<country_code>_shp.ziphttps://biogeo.ucdavis.edu/data/gadm3.6/Rsp/gadm36_<country_code>_<level>_sp.rdsReplace <country_code> with ISO3 code (e.g., USA, IND, BRA).
Levels: 0 (country), 1 (region), 2 (province), etc.
GADM 3.6 boundaries are high-resolution (often >1 MB per province). Use simplification before serving tiles:
# Python
gdf_simple = gdf.simplify(tolerance=0.01) # adjust tolerance
gdf_simple.to_file("gadm36_simple.geojson", driver="GeoJSON")