Looking for free GIS data? Discover the Top 10 Free GIS Data Sources for 2025 with step-by-step download guides, comparison tables, and beginner-friendly tips.
Best Free GIS Data Sources 2025
Finding reliable and free GIS data can be challenging. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or GIS professional, having access to accurate and up-to-date geospatial datasets is essential.
Here’s a hand-picked list of the Top 10 Free GIS Data Sources for 2025, along with step-by-step guides and a comparison table to help you choose the right platform.
1. OpenStreetMap (OSM)
Type of Data: Vector (roads, buildings, POIs)
Resolution: Varies (community‑contributed)
Formats: .shp, .geojson, .pbf
Website: OpenStreetMap.org
How to Download:
Visit Geofabrik.
Choose your continent/country/region.
Download the data in .shp (Shapefile) or .pbf format.
Why Use It?
Perfect for urban planning, navigation apps, and base mapping. OSM is constantly updated by a global community.
2. USGS Earth Explorer
Type of Data: Satellite imagery (Landsat, NAIP), DEMs, land cover
Resolution: 15m–30m (Landsat), up to 1m (NAIP)
Formats: .tif, .img
Website: USGS Earth Explorer
How to Download:
Create a free USGS account.
Draw your Area of Interest (AOI) on the map.
Select datasets like Landsat, DEMs, or NAIP.
Download in GeoTIFF format.
Why Use It?
One of the best sources for historical satellite imagery and elevation data — great for remote sensing & environmental studies.
3. Natural Earth
Type of Data: Vector & raster (political, physical, cultural)
Resolution: 1:10m, 1:50m, 1:110m
Formats: .shp, .tif
Website: Natural Earth Data
Why Use It?
A cartographer’s favorite — ideal for map backgrounds, political boundaries, and global-scale projects.
4. Copernicus Open Access Hub
Type of Data: Sentinel satellite imagery (Sentinel‑1, 2, 3)
Resolution: 10m–60m
Formats: .SAFE, .jp2
Website: Copernicus Hub
How to Download:
Create a free Copernicus account.
Search for Sentinel datasets (Sentinel‑2 is most popular for land use/vegetation).
Download the imagery in .SAFE format.
Why Use It?
Great for agriculture, vegetation mapping, and land cover monitoring.
5. DIVA‑GIS
Type of Data: Administrative boundaries, biodiversity, climate
Resolution: Country‑level
Formats: .shp
Website: DIVA-GIS.org
Why Use It?
Best for country-level administrative boundaries and biodiversity datasets — widely used in research & conservation.
6. NASA Earthdata
Type of Data: Climate, atmosphere, MODIS satellite data
Resolution: Varies by dataset (250m–1km typical)
Formats: .hdf, .nc, .tif
Website: NASA Earthdata
How to Download:
Register for a free Earthdata account.
Browse and select datasets (MODIS, SMAP, etc.).
Download in HDF, NetCDF, or GeoTIFF.
Why Use It?
Essential for climate analysis, global environmental monitoring, and research projects.
7. OpenTopography
Type of Data: LiDAR, DEMs
Resolution: High‑resolution (sub‑meter to 30m)
Formats: .las, .tif
Website: OpenTopography.org
Why Use It?
Perfect for 3D terrain modeling, flood mapping, and detailed elevation studies.
8. FAO GeoNetwork
Type of Data: Agriculture, forestry, water, food security
Resolution: Varies
Formats: .shp, .tif
Website: FAO GeoNetwork
Why Use It?
Focused on agriculture, food security, and land management — widely used in development projects.
9. Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX)
Type of Data: Humanitarian, population, health, infrastructure
Resolution: Country & regional
Formats: .csv, .shp
Website: HDX Data
Why Use It?
Ideal for NGOs, humanitarian projects, and disaster response planning.
10. WorldPop
Type of Data: Population distribution & demographics
Resolution: 100m–1km
Formats: .tif
Website: WorldPop
Why Use It?
Provides high‑resolution population datasets, useful for urban studies, health planning, and disaster risk assessment.
Type of Data: Vector (roads, buildings, POIs)
Resolution: Varies (community‑contributed)
Formats: .shp, .geojson, .pbf
Website: OpenStreetMap.org
How to Download:
Visit Geofabrik.
Choose your continent/country/region.
Download the data in .shp (Shapefile) or .pbf format.
Why Use It?
Perfect for urban planning, navigation apps, and base mapping. OSM is constantly updated by a global community.
2. USGS Earth Explorer
Type of Data: Satellite imagery (Landsat, NAIP), DEMs, land cover
Resolution: 15m–30m (Landsat), up to 1m (NAIP)
Formats: .tif, .img
Website: USGS Earth Explorer
How to Download:
Create a free USGS account.
Draw your Area of Interest (AOI) on the map.
Select datasets like Landsat, DEMs, or NAIP.
Download in GeoTIFF format.
Why Use It?
One of the best sources for historical satellite imagery and elevation data — great for remote sensing & environmental studies.
3. Natural Earth
Type of Data: Vector & raster (political, physical, cultural)
Resolution: 1:10m, 1:50m, 1:110m
Formats: .shp, .tif
Website: Natural Earth Data
Why Use It?
A cartographer’s favorite — ideal for map backgrounds, political boundaries, and global-scale projects.
4. Copernicus Open Access Hub
Type of Data: Sentinel satellite imagery (Sentinel‑1, 2, 3)
Resolution: 10m–60m
Formats: .SAFE, .jp2
Website: Copernicus Hub
How to Download:
Create a free Copernicus account.
Search for Sentinel datasets (Sentinel‑2 is most popular for land use/vegetation).
Download the imagery in .SAFE format.
Why Use It?
Great for agriculture, vegetation mapping, and land cover monitoring.
5. DIVA‑GIS
Type of Data: Administrative boundaries, biodiversity, climate
Resolution: Country‑level
Formats: .shp
Website: DIVA-GIS.org
Why Use It?
Best for country-level administrative boundaries and biodiversity datasets — widely used in research & conservation.
6. NASA Earthdata
Type of Data: Climate, atmosphere, MODIS satellite data
Resolution: Varies by dataset (250m–1km typical)
Formats: .hdf, .nc, .tif
Website: NASA Earthdata
How to Download:
Register for a free Earthdata account.
Browse and select datasets (MODIS, SMAP, etc.).
Download in HDF, NetCDF, or GeoTIFF.
Why Use It?
Essential for climate analysis, global environmental monitoring, and research projects.
7. OpenTopography
Type of Data: LiDAR, DEMs
Resolution: High‑resolution (sub‑meter to 30m)
Formats: .las, .tif
Website: OpenTopography.org
Why Use It?
Perfect for 3D terrain modeling, flood mapping, and detailed elevation studies.
8. FAO GeoNetwork
Type of Data: Agriculture, forestry, water, food security
Resolution: Varies
Formats: .shp, .tif
Website: FAO GeoNetwork
Why Use It?
Focused on agriculture, food security, and land management — widely used in development projects.
9. Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX)
Type of Data: Humanitarian, population, health, infrastructure
Resolution: Country & regional
Formats: .csv, .shp
Website: HDX Data
Why Use It?
Ideal for NGOs, humanitarian projects, and disaster response planning.
10. WorldPop
Type of Data: Population distribution & demographics
Resolution: 100m–1km
Formats: .tif
Website: WorldPop
Why Use It?
Provides high‑resolution population datasets, useful for urban studies, health planning, and disaster risk assessment.
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