GADM attribute tables include a GID_0 (country code), GID_1 (state ID), and NAME_1 (state name). Use GID_1 for reliable joins.
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# Convert Shapefile to GMT ogr2ogr -f OGR_GMT gadm36_USA_0.gmt gadm36_USA_0.shp
| Format | Best for | Notes | |--------|----------|-------| | | 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. | download gadm data version 36 work
Global Administrative Areas (GADM) is a high-resolution database of country administrative boundaries. It maps the administrative areas of all countries, at all levels of subdivision.
GADM v3.6 shapefiles are delivered as zipped archives containing .shp , .shx , .dbf , .prj , and .cpg . GeoPackage is a single .gpkg file.
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later. GADM attribute tables include a GID_0 (country code),
# Load necessary library library(sf)
GADM data is typically available in several formats. Choose the one that fits your workflow:
Note: This is a critical step. If you just hit the main "Download" button on the homepage, you are downloading the latest version. To get 3.6, you must actively select the archived branch. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted
# If you downloaded the .rds file # Note: GADM .rds files are often saved as sf objects already gadm_data <- readRDS("gadm36_COUNTRYCODE_sf.rds")
Available in Shapefiles, Geopackages, and R-ready formats.
Option A: The "Download All" button. I hovered over this for a second. It’s a tempting proposition—downloading the entire world in one go. But for v3.6, a global extraction is a heavy lift (gigabytes of data). I didn't need the administrative boundaries of Greenland or Antarctica for this project.