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Critical URL for global download (direct link, works as of 2025):
https://biogeo.ucdavis.edu/data/gadm3.6/gadm36_levels.gpkg.zip
(Geopackage, all countries, all levels).
| Level | Description | Example Attribute | |-------|-------------|------------------| | 0 | Country | NAME_0 = "Indonesia" | | 1 | First-level admin (province/state) | NAME_1 = "Java Barat" | | 2 | Second-level (regency/district) | NAME_2 = "Bandung" | | 3 | Third-level (subdistrict/commune) | NAME_3 = "Cimenyan" | | 4 | Fourth-level (village/neighborhood) | NAME_4 (not all countries) |
Many users download the file but cannot open it. Here is how to make GADM version 3.6 work in your environment. download gadm data version 36 work
This is the core of the user’s search intent. You’ve downloaded the ZIP file – now what?
Target Keyword: download gadm data version 36 work Critical URL for global download (direct link, works
If you have landed on this page, you are likely looking for a reliable, step-by-step protocol to download GADM data version 3.6 and actually get it to work in your Geographic Information System (GIS), statistical software (like R or Python), or web mapping platform.
GADM (Database of Global Administrative Areas) is the gold standard for boundary data. Version 3.6, released in late 2020 (with minor updates into 2021), remains one of the most widely used versions due to its stability, licensing clarity, and compatibility with legacy systems. However, novice users often struggle with file formats, projection mismatches, and API changes. | Level | Description | Example Attribute |
This article will walk you through everything: what GADM 3.6 is, how to download it correctly, how to troubleshoot common errors, and how to make the data work for your specific analysis.
Once you select a country (e.g., “France”), you will see various format options. To make GADM “work” seamlessly, pick based on your tool:
| Format | Best for | Notes |
|--------|----------|-------|
| Shapefile (.shp) | QGIS, ArcGIS (all versions) | Universal, but requires all 4–5 component files. |
| GeoPackage (.gpkg) | QGIS, modern GIS | Single-file, better performance, highly recommended. |
| R data (.rds) | R users (sf or sp packages) | Loads directly with readRDS(). |
| KMZ | Google Earth, web mapping | Limited attribute access. |
For most users: Choose GeoPackage or Shapefile. Then click the download button. The file will be named like gadm36_FRA_gpkg.zip or gadm36_FRA_shp.zip.