[](https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=rnaturalearth) [](https://github.com/ropensci/software-review/issues/22) [](https://www.repostatus.org/#active) [](https://github.com/ropensci/rnaturalearth/actions/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml) # rnaturalearth An R package to hold and facilitate interaction with [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) map data. This package provides : - access to a pre-downloaded subset of Natural Earth v4.1.0 (March 2018) vector data commonly used in world mapping - easy subsetting by countries and regions - functions to download other Natural Earth vector and raster data - a simple, reproducible and sustainable workflow from Natural Earth data to rnaturalearth enabling updating as new versions become available - clarification of differences in world maps classified by countries, sovereign states and map units - consistency with Natural Earth naming conventions so that rnaturalearth users can use Natural Earth documentation - data in `sf` or `sv` formats The [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) website structures vector data by scale, category and type. These determine the filenames of downloads. rnaturalearth uses this structure to facilitate download (like an API). ## Install rnaturalearth Install from CRAN : ``` r install.packages("rnaturalearth") ``` or install the development version from GitHub using [pak](https://github.com/r-lib/pak/). ``` r pak::pkg_install("ropensci/rnaturalearth") ``` Data to support much of the package functionality are stored in two data packages that you will be prompted to install when required if you do not do so here. ``` r pak::pkg_install("ropensci/rnaturalearthdata") pak::pkg_install("ropensci/rnaturalearthhires") ``` ## First usage Here using `plot` as a simple, quick way to plot maps. Maps could also be made with `ggplot2`, `tmap` or other options. All retrieval functions accept an argument `returnclass = "sf"` to return package `sf` (Simple Features) or `returnclass = "sv"` (SpatVector) objects. ``` r library(rnaturalearth) # world countries plot(ne_countries()) Warning: plotting the first 9 out of 168 attributes; use max.plot = 168 to plot all ```  ``` r # uk plot(ne_countries(country = "united kingdom")) Warning: plotting the first 10 out of 168 attributes; use max.plot = 168 to plot all ```  ``` r # states, admin level1 boundaries plot(ne_states(country = "spain")) Warning: plotting the first 9 out of 121 attributes; use max.plot = 121 to plot all ```  ## Introductory vignette ``` r vignette("rnaturalearth", package = "rnaturalearth") ``` ## To download Natural Earth data not already in the package There are a wealth of other data available at the [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) website. `rnaturalearth` has functions to help with download of these data. The data available are outlined in the two tables below and online [here](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/downloads/50m-physical-vectors/). category cultural category physical Specify the `scale`, `category` and `type` of the vector you want as in the examples below. ``` r # lakes lakes110 <- ne_download(scale = 110, type = "lakes", category = "physical") plot(lakes110) # rivers rivers50 <- ne_download( scale = 50, type = "rivers_lake_centerlines", category = "physical", returnclass = "sf" ) library(ggplot2) library(sf) ggplot(rivers50) + geom_sf() + theme_minimal() ``` ## Details of different country definitions and scales ``` r vignette("what-is-a-country", package = "rnaturalearth") ``` ## Reproducible download of Natural Earth data into the package [Script](https://github.com/ropensci/rnaturalearthdata/blob/master/data-raw/data_download_script.R) used to get data into the accompanying data packages. ## Errors in the data? If you believe there is an issue with data provided by [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/), please do not report it here. We are not responsible for the accuracy or maintenance of Natural Earth data. For any concerns regarding this data, please contact [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/). ## Acknowledgements Thanks to [Lincoln Mullen](https://github.com/lmullen) for code structure inspiration from [USAboundaries](https://github.com/ropensci/USAboundaries), [Hadley Wickham](https://github.com/hadley) for comments and prompting, [Bob Rudis](https://github.com/hrbrmstr) for answers to stackoverflow questions about downloading Natural Earth data into R. The [Natural Earth team](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/about/contributors/) and [Nathan Kelso](https://github.com/nvkelso) for providing such a great resource. ## Potential future work ### Potential additional data - Country synonyms lookup - dataframe with ISO3 and country synonyms - similar to - Country larger regions lookup - dataframe with ISO3 and membership of different regional groupings, e.g. continent, least developed countries etc. - similar to ### Potential additional functions - facilitate joining of user data to country boundaries - similar to - … but with a better name - similar allowing of join by ISO codes or names, with attempted synonym matching - similar reporting of country joining success and failure - facilitate subsetting by country groupings - e.g. least developed countries etc.