If you downloaded a Geopackage, QGIS will prompt you to select which administrative levels (0, 1, 2, etc.) you want to load.
The database is a high-resolution spatial database of the world's administrative boundaries. While newer versions like 4.1 are available, Version 3.6 remains a widely used benchmark in academic research and GIS workflows due to its stability and compatibility with older datasets. Where to Download GADM 3.6
Option B: Country by Country. I scrolled to the country list. It’s an alphabetical dropdown. I selected (VNM) and Cambodia (KHM).
The GADM website provides two primary methods for downloading version 3.6 data: single-country downloads and entire-world packages. download gadm data version 36 work
GADM v3.6 includes these key columns (names vary slightly by level):
. Select your country from the dropdown and choose a format. Global Dataset : Available on the World Download page as a single large GeoPackage or Shapefile. Available Formats GeoPackage (.gpkg) : The modern standard and recommended format. Shapefile (.shp)
Connect CSV files containing statistical data to the spatial boundaries. Summary of Benefits High Resolution: Superior boundary detail. Global Coverage: Includes every country. Free for Research: Ideal for academic projects. If you downloaded a Geopackage, QGIS will prompt
Open QGIS, go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Vector Layer . Browse to your downloaded GADM 3.6 Geopackage or Shapefile and click Add .
When you download GADM 3.6, you will usually be prompted to choose a format. For most, the format is standard, but GeoPackage is increasingly preferred for modern workflows. 3. Understanding Level Files GADM separates boundaries by level: Level 0: Country boundaries only. Level 1: Country + Province/State boundaries. Level 2: District/Municipalities. Level 3: Further subdivisions. How to Work with GADM Data Version 3.6
For global analysis, you can download the entire world database. Note that these are very large files. Where to Download GADM 3
Browse to your downloaded GADM 3.6 file (GeoPackage or Shapefile).
# Install and load the geodata package install.packages("geodata") library(geodata)
After download, verify: