Now Available: The Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) Dataset – 2024 Edition

FAO has released an updated version of the Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) dataset al level 1 and 2, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the geospatial foundation of global food and agriculture systems. 

With the launch of the FAO Agro-Informatics Platform (AIP)—a centralized hub unlocking millions of geospatial data layers across domains including food security, agricultural production, and natural resources—GAUL has been revitalized to once again serve as a key dataset in FAO’s spatial data ecosystem. GAUL provides standardized, high-quality representations of sub-national administrative boundaries and supports a wide range of applications in spatial analysis, decision-making, and policy development. 

As an essential component of FAO’s geospatial infrastructure, GAUL plays a critical role in supporting the Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Initiative and enabling data-informed actions for stakeholders across the food and agriculture sector. 

The FAO metadata catalogue provides access to the dataset, including metadata, terms of use and technical guidelines. GAUL 2024 level 1 can be downloaded here, and level 2 here. Data can be displayed through the AIP here. 

The Global Administrative Unit Layers (GAUL) Dataset 2024 Technical Guidelines are available to assist users in understanding the dataset’s structure and practical use. 

Publication is available here