Following my previous article "GIS Data: Global Time Zone Boundary Data (SHP Format)", several readers requested global continent boundary datasets. Surprisingly, this data proved readily available. Below is a comparative overview of three authoritative sources.

Data Preview:

Dataset Overview

I identified three key versions, all in WGS-84 coordinate system and SHP format unless specified otherwise:

1. ESRI Sample Data

  • Format: Single feature layer containing all continents

  • Characteristics:

    • 8 distinct continental polygons (Australia and Oceania separated)
    • No official map approval number

2. FigShare Dataset

  • Format: Separate SHP files per continent

  • Characteristics:

    • Identical content to ESRI version
    • Modular loading (load only needed continents)
    • No approval number

3. China Standard Map Service

  • Format: EPS/JPG only (requires georeferencing)

  • Characteristics:

    • Approval Number: GS(2016)1566
    • 7-continent model (mainland China standard)

Key Differences

| Version | Continent Count | Format | Approval Number |
|----------------------|---------------------|------------|---------------------|
| ESRI | 8 | SHP | ❌ |
| FigShare | 8 | SHP | ❌ |
| Standard Map Service | 7 | EPS/JPG | ✅ GS(2016)1566 |

Data Download

All three datasets are packaged here:

File: Global_Continent_Boundaries.7z
Link: https://pan.baidu.com/s/1nM-rJXVy7_0R9KtM149J_w
Code: ectn
Unzip Password: malagis.com

Note: Archives created with 7-Zip. Use legitimate compression software for extraction.

References

  1. FigShare Dataset: https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Continent_Polygons/12555170
  2. Standard Map Service: http://bzdt.ch.mnr.gov.cn/browse.html?picId=%224o28b0625501ad13015501ad2bfc0063%22

Contributions of higher-quality datasets are welcome via comments.