Country Boundary Viewer: Interactive Geographic Boundaries Explorer
Download Free Country Boundaries, Administrative Divisions & GeoJSON Map Data
Explore and download precise geographic boundaries for countries worldwide. Our interactive boundary viewer provides instant access to administrative borders at multiple levels – from national boundaries to states, provinces, districts, and municipalities
Access Free Geographic Boundary Data in Three Formats
The Country Boundary Viewer gives you instant access to high-quality geographic data without signup or payment:
- GeoJSON Format – Industry-standard format compatible with most mapping tools
- Full-Resolution Boundaries – Highly detailed border data for precise analysis
- Simplified Geometry – Optimized file sizes for web applications
- TopoJSON Option – Topology-preserving format for efficient web mapping
Perfect for data scientists, GIS professionals, researchers, web developers, and students who need reliable geographic boundary data.
Explore Administrative Boundaries at Multiple Levels
Our tool provides comprehensive boundary data across different administrative divisions:
- National Borders (ADM0) – Country outlines with accurate international boundaries
- States & Provinces (ADM1) – First-level administrative divisions within countries
- Counties & Districts (ADM2) – Second-level administrative divisions
- Municipalities (ADM3) – Local government boundaries and smaller administrative units
View boundary data on an interactive map before downloading to ensure you get exactly what you need.
Why Use Our Geographic Boundary Data?
- Comprehensive Coverage – Boundaries for 199 countries worldwide
- Always Updated – Based on the current geoBoundaries database
- Multiple Formats – Choose between GeoJSON, simplified geometry, and TopoJSON
- Instant Access – No registration required, download immediately
- Open Data – All data available under CC-BY 4.0 license
- Interactive Preview – Visualize boundaries before downloading
Geographic Data Use Cases
Data Analysis & Visualization
Create compelling geographic visualizations and conduct spatial analysis with accurate boundary data. Perfect for regional comparisons, demographic mapping, and geographic insights.
Web Development & Interactive Maps
Build responsive web maps and location-based applications with optimized boundary data. Choose simplified geometries for faster loading or full resolution for detailed views.
Academic Research
Access standardized boundary files for consistent geographic analysis across studies. Compare administrative divisions and analyze regional data with confidence.
GIS Applications
Import boundary files directly into QGIS, ArcGIS, or other geographic information systems for advanced spatial analysis and cartography.
About the Boundary Data
All geographic boundaries come from geoBoundaries, the world’s largest open database of political administrative boundaries. This dataset is maintained by academic researchers and provides consistently formatted global boundary data.
Key features of our boundary data:
- Open Access – Available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license
- Standardized Format – Consistent data structure across all countries
- Regular Updates – Reflecting current recognized boundaries
- Multiple Administrative Levels – From national to local boundaries
[Start Exploring Geographic Boundaries Now]
Countries and Regions Available
Our tool includes boundary data for all 199 countries in the geoBoundaries database, including:
- United States state and county boundaries
- European country and provincial divisions
- African national and regional borders
- Asian country and administrative boundaries
- South American geographic divisions
- Australian states and territories
- Island nations and territories worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Questions
What is the Country Boundary Viewer?
The Country Boundary Viewer is a free tool that allows you to explore and download geographic boundary data for countries and their administrative divisions worldwide. It provides an interactive map interface and multiple download options.
Is this tool completely free to use?
Yes, the Country Boundary Viewer is completely free to use. There are no usage limits, registration requirements, or hidden fees. All boundary data is provided under an open license.
What countries are included in the database?
The tool includes boundary data for 199 countries worldwide, covering all recognized sovereign states and many dependent territories.
How accurate and up-to-date are these boundaries?
The boundaries come from the geoBoundaries database, which is regularly updated to reflect internationally recognized borders. While extremely accurate for most purposes, they may not perfectly match official legal boundaries in all disputed areas.
Data & Technical Questions
What file formats are available for download?
You can download boundary data in three formats:
- GeoJSON (both simplified and full resolution)
- TopoJSON (topology-preserving format)
What’s the difference between simplified and full-resolution boundaries?
- Simplified boundaries have fewer vertices, resulting in smaller file sizes that load faster in web applications. They maintain the general shape but smooth out fine details.
- Full-resolution boundaries contain all vertices from the original data, providing the highest level of detail but with larger file sizes.
What administrative levels can I download?
The tool provides boundary data at multiple administrative levels:
- ADM0: National boundaries (country borders)
- ADM1: First-level divisions (states, provinces, regions)
- ADM2: Second-level divisions (counties, districts)
- ADM3: Third-level divisions (municipalities, communes)
How large are the boundary files?
File sizes vary by country and administrative level:
- National boundaries (ADM0) are typically 100KB-2MB
- First-level divisions (ADM1) range from 500KB-5MB
- Lower administrative levels can be 1MB-20MB for full resolution
- Simplified geometries are approximately 70-90% smaller than full resolution
Can I use the data in commercial projects?
Yes, all data is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, which allows commercial use with proper attribution.
Usage & Integration
How do I attribute the data correctly?
Include the following attribution when using the data: “Boundary data from geoBoundaries, Runfola, D. et al. (2020) geoBoundaries: A global database of political administrative boundaries. PLoS ONE 15(4): e0231866.”
Can I use this data with other GIS software?
Yes, the GeoJSON format is compatible with most GIS software including QGIS, ArcGIS, MapInfo, and GRASS GIS. Many software packages also support TopoJSON.
How do I integrate these boundaries into web maps?
The boundaries can be easily integrated with popular mapping libraries:
- Leaflet: Use L.geoJSON() to add GeoJSON layers
- MapboxGL: Use addSource() and addLayer() with GeoJSON
- OpenLayers: Use ol.format.GeoJSON() to parse and display the data
- Google Maps: Use the Data layer with GeoJSON
Why are some boundaries missing or incomplete?
While the database is comprehensive, some regions may have incomplete or less detailed data due to:
- Limited availability of authoritative sources
- Ongoing territorial disputes
- Recent changes in administrative divisions
- Geographically complex areas like island groups
Troubleshooting
The file I downloaded is too large for my application. What can I do?
- Use the simplified geometry option instead of full resolution
- Consider TopoJSON format which is generally more compact
- For web applications, you can further simplify using tools like Mapshaper
Why doesn’t the boundary exactly match what I see on other maps?
Different map providers may use different boundary datasets that reflect specific political views or historical periods. The geoBoundaries dataset attempts to represent internationally recognized boundaries, but these can differ from nationally claimed territories in disputed regions.
Can I request a specific country or administrative level that’s missing?
The tool draws from the geoBoundaries database, which is continuously improving. If you notice missing data, you can contribute to the project directly through their GitHub repository.
The tool isn’t displaying properly on my device. What should I do?
Try clearing your browser cache, updating your browser to the latest version, or trying a different browser. The tool works best on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
