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OpenStreetMap Knowledgebase

How To

Extract administrative boundaries as shapefiles

  1. Open QGIS.
  2. Install QOSM and OpenLayers plugins, if not already installed.
  3. Select Web/OpenLayers plugin/OpenStreetMap/OpenStreetMap menu item. This will add an OpenStreetMap layer to the map.
  4. Move to the area of your interest. The visible map extents will serve as the download bbox.
  5. Select Vector/Quick OSM/QuickOSM menu item to start the Quick OSM plugin.
  6. In the Quick query tab item, enter admin_level under the Key textbox and 6 (as an example) for Value. Make sure Extents of the map canvas option is checked.
  7. Run query. It will produce 3 new vector layers (point, polyline and polygon) that you can save as shapefiles.

Tested in QGIS 2.18.12.