Esri creates ArcGIS Places datasets for more than 170 countries and regions around the world, sourced from data supplied by reliable business and location data sources.
ArcGIS Places datasets can be used as a stand-alone foundation for map visualization and location analysis or can be used in the context of other data types, such as Esri Demographics and imagery data.
A place is a geographic location represented by a single latitude-longitude point. A place may be a business, a government building such as a post office, a landmark such as the Eiffel Tower, or a natural feature such as a lake or trailhead. Places may also be known as points of interest or POIs.
Knowing about the places that exist in an area of interest can inform your geographic analysis and decision-making, helping you answer questions such as the following:
- How far is a competitor's store from my business?
- What are some of the local attractions near this location?
- Where are the most popular Italian restaurants near my current location?
- Is this place located in a flood zone or near other natural hazards?
Data sources, vintages, and update frequency
The data sources that Esri uses to create ArcGIS Places datasets update the source data at various intervals. The vintages and update frequencies are as follows:
| Data source | Country | Vintage | Update frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada and the United States | August 2025 | Annual (local data only) | |
3 times per year | |||
2021 | Periodically | ||
2025 | Annual | ||
Approximately 170 countries | August 2025 | 3 times per year | |
2023 | Periodically | ||
August 2025 | 3 times per year | ||
The number and type of attributes and the level of detail available in a dataset vary by data source. The overall regional coverage provided by ArcGIS Places datasets is nearly global.
Note:
To learn about the most recent changes and updates to ArcGIS Places data, see What's new in ArcGIS Places.
Note:
In January 2025, Esri incorporated Foursquare Open Source Places into the global ArcGIS Places data. See Reference A below. As a result of this change to the source content, you may notice some differences from previous versions when using this data in Esri products and services, such as the number of attributes available for a location, the number of regional place records returned, and an updated category code system. See the Places category finder to locate updated category codes.
Note:
Reference A—© 2025 Foursquare Labs, Inc. All rights reserved. Licensed under the Apache License. Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0. Unless required by applicable law or agreed in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
Access methods
You must access ArcGIS Places datasets using licensed ArcGIS products through one of the following access methods:
- An ArcGIS Location Platform account
- An ArcGIS Online account
- Install ArcGIS Places data locally
Note:
Local data installations require the purchase of an annually updated ArcGIS Places dataset bundle.
Esri products
ArcGIS Places datasets are available in the following Esri products.
ArcGIS Pro with a Business Analyst license
You can use ArcGIS Pro with a Business Analyst license with all data sources and locally installed dataset bundles.
| Access method | Data source | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
ArcGIS Online account | All data sources | |
Locally installed data with a dataset bundle | Data Axle annual dataset for the United States or Esri India for India only |
ArcGIS Pro
You can use ArcGIS Pro with all data sources. Locally installed data with a dataset bundle is not available for ArcGIS Pro.
| Access method | Data source | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
ArcGIS Online account | All data sources | |
Locally installed data with a dataset bundle | Not available |
ArcGIS Business Analyst Enterprise
You can use ArcGIS Business Analyst Enterprise with locally installed data from a dataset bundle sourced from Data Axle or Esri India only.
| Access method | Data source | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
ArcGIS Online account | Not available | |
Locally installed data with a dataset bundle | Data Axle annual dataset for the United States or Esri India for India only |
ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App
You can use ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App with all data sources. Locally installed data with a dataset bundle is not available for ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App.
| Access method | Data source | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
ArcGIS Online account | All data sources | |
Locally installed data with a dataset bundle | Not available |
ArcGIS Business Analyst Mobile App
You can use ArcGIS Business Analyst Mobile App with all data sources. Locally installed data with a dataset bundle is not available for ArcGIS Business Analyst Mobile App.
| Access method | Data source | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
ArcGIS Online account | All data sources | Run Reports workflow—Infographic templates describing nearby POI |
Locally installed data with a dataset bundle | Not available |
ArcGIS Experience Builder
You can use ArcGIS Experience Builder with all data sources. Data availability is based on your configuration and license, which may include locally installed data with a dataset bundle.
| Access method | Data source | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
ArcGIS Location Platform account | All data sources (based on your configuration and license) | Business Analyst widget—Infographic templates describing nearby POIs |
ArcGIS Online account | All data sources (based on your configuration and license) | |
Locally installed data with a dataset bundle (if licensed) | Data Axle annual dataset for the United States or Esri India for India only |
ArcGIS Places service
You can use the ArcGIS Places service with the global location data supplied by Foursquare using an ArcGIS Location Platform account access method.
| Access method | Data source | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
ArcGIS Location Platform account | All data sources | |
Locally installed data with a dataset bundle | Not available |
Attribute comparison
The table below compares the attributes available from all ArcGIS Places data sources. Not all attributes include the same level of detail for the same number of data points.
| Attribute | Description | Data Axle | DENUE | Esri India | Foursquare | NOSTRA | SafeGraph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place, company, or business name | The name by which a place or business is known. |
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Brand | The brands affiliated with the business, when applicable. |
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Category | The industry-related category code. |
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NAICS code | The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. Note:NAICS 2022 |
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NAICS sector | The first two digits of the NAICS code, which indicate the general economic activity category of the business calculated by Esri. |
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SIC code | The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. |
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Detailed location information | The address, town, or geographic location associated with a place or business. Some data sources include more granular address details. |
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Landmark | The known landmarks near the place or business. |
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Location | The geographic coordinates for the place or alternative access points in WGS84 decimal degree format. |
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Block ID | The geostatistical data, such as the AGEB ID, Block ID, a U.S. Census Block geoid value, or Uber H3 global hexagon identifier. |
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Chain, organization, or franchise | Any standardized chain (franchised business), organization, or direct headquarters affiliated with a place or business. |
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Location parent | The primary business at a place with multiple businesses. |
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Location confidence | The spatial accuracy of the location, such as parcel centroid versus postal code centroid. |
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Hours | The hours of operation or weekly schedule information (such as open 24 hours or open Sunday). |
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Contact | The phone, website, fax, email, or social media account information. |
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Professional specialty | Any specialties within a line of business. |
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Square footage | The estimated square footage of the business. |
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Employee count | The number of employees. |
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Sales volume / assets | The estimated sales or assets. |
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Permanency | Specifies whether the place is fixed or semifixed, such as a street vendor. |
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