Administrative boundaries (level 2) - GAUL 2025

The administrative boundaries dataset at level 1 (Sub-national level) is part of the Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL 2025) dataset series which includes information on administrative units for all the countries in the world, providing a contribution to the standardization of the spatial dataset representing administrative units. The administrative boundaries at the level 1 dataset distinguishes States, Provinces, Departments and equivalent. The GAUL maintains global layers with a unified coding system at country, first (e.g. departments), and second administrative levels (e.g. districts). The complete metadata reference for each country, along with the specific license or Terms of Use applicable at the country level, can be accessed **here**. **Data publication:** 2026-05-20 **Supplemental Information:** GAUL 2025 underwent a thorough review of administrative boundaries. Sources and point of contacts were cross-checked, and original references were verified. This process resulted in several updates, which are described in detail in the [**changeLog**]( https://data.apps.fao.org/catalog/dataset/0309530a-fc32-4115-8f68-0dffcdbaca15/resource/e02f4beb-6576-4d9f-a936-f17e5d3e5272/download/gaul_2025_l1_changelog.docx). As part of this revision, some codes were deprecated and new codes were assigned. The list of deprecated codes is available [**here**]( https://data.apps.fao.org/catalog/dataset/0309530a-fc32-4115-8f68-0dffcdbaca15/resource/9a270895-ae2f-404d-89fe-526e0eff9aa6/download/gaul_2025_l1_list_of_deprecated_codes.xlsx), while the list of new codes is available **here**. As explained in the technical documentation, changes in polygon geometry trigger the assignment of new codes, even in cases where the polygon name, or part of it, remains unchanged. **Citation:** FAO. 2025. Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL). [Accessed on [DD Month YYYY]]. https://data.apps.fao.org. Licence: CC-BY-4.0 **Contact points:** Resource Contact: [FAO-Data](mailto:FAO-Data@fao.org) Resource Contact: [FAO-Data](mailto:FAO-Data@fao.org) **Data lineage:** The overall GAUL methodology consists in a) collecting the best available data from most reliable sources, b) assemble national datasets into a common dataset by matching international boundaries with a reference authoritative dataset, i.e. the UN 2018, c) standardizing attributes to a common table of attributes, d) generating codes using GAUL Coding System, e) applying a topology and f) fill the metadata for each country. Detailed technical documentation is available **here**. **Resource constraints:** This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-4.0 International license (**CC BY 4.0**). IMPORTANT – Read carefully the **Terms of Use** before using the digital data. By downloading the Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) 2025 you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions contained in this document. **Online resources:** Download the data from the Google bucket GAUL 2025 Terms of Use GAUL 2025 L1 Metadata List of changes by country List of new assigned codes from GAUL 2024 List of deprecated codes from GAUL 2024 GAUL 2024 Technical Guidelines

The administrative boundaries dataset at level 1 (Sub-national level) is part of the Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL 2024) dataset series which includes information on administrative units for all the countries in the world, providing a contribution to the standardization of the spatial dataset representing administrative units. The administrative boundaries at the level 1 dataset distinguishes States, Provinces, Departments and equivalent. The GAUL maintains global layers with a unified coding system at country, first (e.g. departments), and second administrative levels (e.g. districts). The complete metadata reference for each country, along with the specific license or Terms of Use applicable at the country level, can be accessed **here**. **Data publication:** 2024-12-19 **Citation:** FAO. 2024. Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL). [Accessed on [DD Month YYYY]]. https://data.apps.fao.org/?lang=en. Licence: CC-BY-4.0 **Contact points:** Resource Contact: [FAO-Data](mailto:FAO-Data@fao.org) Metadata Contact: [FAO-Data](mailto:FAO-Data@fao.org) **Data lineage:** The overall GAUL methodology consists in a) collecting the best available data from most reliable sources, b) assemble national datasets into a common dataset by matching international boundaries with a reference authoritative dataset, i.e. the UN 2018, c) standardizing attributes to a common table of attributes, d) generating codes using GAUL Coding System, e) applying a topology and f) fill the metadata for each country. Detailed technical documentation is available **here**. **Resource constraints:** This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-4.0 International license (**CC BY 4.0**). IMPORTANT – Read carefully the **Terms of Use** before using the digital data. By downloading the Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) 2024 you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions contained in this document. **Online resources:** Download the data from the Google bucket GAUL 2024 Terms of Use GAUL 2024 L1 Metadata GAUL 2024 L1 ChangeLog GAUL L0 Codes 2024 - 2014 GAUL 2024 Technical Guidelines

The administrative boundaries dataset at level 2 (Sub-national level) is part of the Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) dataset series which includes information on administrative units for all the countries in the world, providing a contribution to the standardization of the spatial dataset representing administrative units. The administrative boundaries at the level 2 dataset distinguishes Districts and equivalent. The GAUL maintains global layers with a unified coding system at country, first (e.g. departments), and second administrative levels (e.g. districts). The complete metadata reference for each country, along with the specific license or Terms of Use applicable at the country level, can be accessed **here**. **Data creation:** 2024-12-19 **Citation:** FAO. 2024. Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL). [Accessed on [DD Month YYYY]]. https://data.apps.fao.org/?lang=en. Licence: CC-BY-4.0 **Contact points:** Resource Contact: [FAO-Data](mailto:FAO-Data@fao.org) Metadata Contact: [FAO-Data](mailto:FAO-Data@fao.org) **Data lineage:** The overall GAUL methodology consists in a) collecting the best available data from most reliable sources, b) assemble national datasets into a common dataset by matching international boundaries with a reference authoritative dataset, i.e. the UN 2018, c) standardizing attributes to a common table of attributes, d) generating codes using GAUL Coding System, e) applying a topology and f) fill the metadata for each country. Detailed technical documentation is available **here**. **Resource constraints:** This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-4.0 International license (**CC BY 4.0**). IMPORTANT – Read carefully the **Terms of Use** before using the digital data. By downloading the Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) 2024 you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions contained in this document. **Online resources:** Download the data from the Google bucket GAUL 2024 Terms of Use GAUL 2024 L2 Metadata GAUL 2024 L2 ChangeLog GAUL 2024 Technical Guidelines GAUL L0 Codes 2024 - 2014

Data from 'gaul:gaul1' **Data publication:** 2026-08-25 **Supplemental Information:** - root - Root Catalog - Parent Catalog **Contact points:** **Resource constraints:** This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0) **Online resources:**

This dataset is the updated version of FAO's Hydrological Basins of the World dataset, published earlier in this catalog (https://data.apps.fao.org/catalog//iso/f2615a41-6383-4aa4-aa21-743330eb03ae) The dataset is included as part of Geo-Spatial Information collected and published in the framework of the AQUASTAT - programme of the Land and Water Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/aquastat/ **Data publication:** 2025-05-02 **Data revision:** 2026-04-13 **Citation:** Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO Land and Water Division. Major hydrological basins of the world, Hydrological sub-basins v2 (Global - 2026) - AQUASTAT, Latest update: 13/04/2026. Accessed (dd-mm/yy) from: https://data.apps.fao.org/catalog/dataset/8cc4c29c-491a-4715-b97f-6a6e8c5f125d **Contact points:** Resource Contact: [AQUASTAT](mailto:aquastat@fao.org) Metadata Contact: [AQUASTAT](mailto:aquastat@fao.org) **Data lineage:** This product incorporates data from the HydroSHEDS database (https://www.hydrosheds.org/) which is © World Wildlife Fund, Inc. (2006-2013) and has been used herein under license. WWF has not evaluated the data as altered and incorporated within the "Major hydrological basins of the world dataset", and therefore gives no warranty regarding its accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose. Recent data review has resulted in the correction of minor topology errors. **Resource constraints:** This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC-BY-4.0) **Online resources:** Download the data from Google Cloud Storage

This dataset is the updated version of FAO's Major Hydrological Basins of the World dataset, published earlier in this catalog (https://data.apps.fao.org/catalog//iso/7707086d-af3c-41cc-8aa5-323d8609b2d1) The dataset is included as part of Geo-Spatial Information collected and published in the framework of the AQUASTAT - programme of the Land and Water Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/aquastat/ **Data publication:** 2025-05-02 **Data revision:** 2026-08-31 **Citation:** Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO Land and Water Division. Major hydrological basins of the world, Major hydrological basins v2 (Global - 2026) - AQUASTAT, Latest update: 13/04/2026. Accessed (dd-mm/yy) from: https://data.apps.fao.org/catalog/dataset/d617520f-7ce4-4e54-ac2c-c550cd764a6b **Contact points:** Resource Contact: [AQUASTAT](mailto:aquastat@fao.org) Metadata Contact: [AQUASTAT](mailto:aquastat@fao.org) **Data lineage:** This product incorporates data from the HydroSHEDS database (https://www.hydrosheds.org/) which is © World Wildlife Fund, Inc. (2006-2013) and has been used herein under license. WWF has not evaluated the data as altered and incorporated within the "Major hydrological basins of the world dataset", and therefore gives no warranty regarding its accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose. Recent data review has resulted in the correction of minor topology errors. **Resource constraints:** This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC-BY-4.0) **Online resources:** Download the data from Google Cloud Storage