GID_0 , GID_1 , GID_2 : Unique alphanumeric identifiers for each specific boundary level.
import geopandas as gpd from gadm import GADMDownloader
| Feature | GADM 3.6 | GADM 4.1 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | May 6, 2018 | More recent | | Data Currency | As of 2018 | Up-to-date boundaries | | Resolution Options | Fixed | High (1) and low (2) resolution options | | File Formats | GeoPackage, Shapefile, KMZ | GeoPackage, Shapefile, GeoJSON | | Download URL | geodata.ucdavis.edu/gadm/gadm3.6/ | geodata.ucdavis.edu/gadm/gadm4.1/ | download gadm data version 36 work
Example in QGIS: Layer properties → Joins → Join by field value (GID_1 = your table’s admin ID).
import sqlite3 conn = sqlite3.connect("gadm36_levels.gpkg") sub = gpd.read_file(conn, layer="level_1", bbox=(-130, 20, -60, 60)) GID_0 , GID_1 , GID_2 : Unique alphanumeric
GADM's main objective is to present a harmonized world coverage of political and administrative areas at all levels of sub-division. The dataset was originally produced for the BioGeomancer project, with collaboration from the International Rice Research Institute and the University of California, Berkeley, and its development was partly supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Once loaded, you can customize the visualization by right-clicking the layer, selecting , and adjusting the symbology, labeling, and other settings. The dataset was originally produced for the BioGeomancer
Getting GADM version 3.6 to “work” is not just about finding a download button – it’s about format choice, encoding awareness, CRS handling, and knowing how to manipulate administrative levels. By following this guide, you can reliably download, load, and integrate the world’s most detailed free administrative boundary dataset into any geospatial workflow.
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It maps countries, provinces, departments, districts, and lower-level subdivisions.