database for streets world wide?

Question

i use the downloadable geonames database for all countries, states, counties and cities in the world.

but i wonder if there is a database for streets?

so you could pick: country -> state/department/district -> (county/region) -> city -> street in whatever country you like?

cause when i do a search for a street in google map i can see all the upper levels (country/region/city). is there a database you could download for mysql for this?

there has to be a database for this, cause there are always national companies that provide this kind of information. where did they get it from?

thanks in advance!

Answer 1

You're looking for Navteq or Tele Atlas.
They will charge lots of money.

Answer 2

Have you checked out OpenStreetMap? It is free and has a export screen that lets you download the data in XML and other formats.

Those concerned with the accruacy of the OpenStreetMap data may want to read what ITO has to say about OpenStreetMap's data for Haiti.

Enter OpenStreetMap, the wiki map of the world, CrisisMappers and an impromptu community of volunteers who collaborated to produce the most authoritative map of Haiti in existence.

If you have 5 minutes you may want to watch this TED video by Tim Berners-Lee talking about what is being done with OpenStreetMap data.

Answer 3

The US Census Bureau provides what they call TIGER files, which might help you out for the US anyway... As far as freely available worldwide data I seriously doubt you're gonna find much, but many governments probably provide something similar to the TIGER files. Good luck.