Research Guides: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data and Tutorials: Global

World Spatial Data

African Marine Atlas
Contains easily downloadable data on various key themes relevant to the marine and coastal environment of Africa
Kenya
Data from the World Resources Institute.

China Dimensions
Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at the Earth Institute.

GeoGratis
Free data from Canada's Earth Sciences Sector (ESS), part of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)
Hosted by Columbia University. Includes links to datasets for the world, various countries, and the US.
CSM GIS Map Indexes
Colorado School of Mines' index of topographical maps with some geological maps.
EarthExplorer
Allows browsing for GIS data and imagery through USGS.
Free GIS Datasets
General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans
GeoData @ Tufts
GlobCover
International Bathymetric Chart of the Artic Ocean
International Geospatial and Attribute Data
Archived data freely available from the University of Arkansas.
Natural Earth
Vector and raster map data at 1:10m, 1:50m, and 1:110m scales.
GIS US Map Collection
GIS World Atlas Map

IMPUS International GIS Boundary Files
Boundary files for national and international data mapping.
USGS/Digital Line Graphs (DLGs)
National Atlas Boundry and Shape Files
A small-scale map of North America was made using a set of basic map information provided by national atlas programs in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Global Administrative Areas
World High-Resolution Shorelines
World Vector Shoreline Plus

CEC: The North American Environmental Atlas
Climate Effects on Food Supply
NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) - Hosted by CIESIN at Columbia University
Data Basin
A free science-based mapping and analysis platform that supports learning, research, and sustainable environmental stewardship
European Environment Agency
Downloadable data about Europe's environment.
Global Agricultural Lands
NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) – Hosted by CIESIN AT Columbia University
Red List of Threatened Species
Species distribution maps in shapefiles provided by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
US Fish & Wildlife GIS Data
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (UCSB)
Joint Research Centre Land Resource Management
Global Climate Data