A rural area, also known as the countryside or a village in some countries, is a geographic area located outside towns and cities. Rural areas typically have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are often described as rural. In rural areas, agriculture is the chief source of livelihood, along with fishing, cottage industries, pottery, and other similar activities. The definition of rural can vary depending on the organization or government using it. However, the Census Bureaus classification of "rural" consists of all territory, population, and housing units located outside urban areas. The Bureaus definition is the only federal definition that applies the term "rural" in an official, statistical capacity, allowing it to be viewed as the official or default definition of rural. The following are some characteristics of rural areas:
- Low population density
- Small settlements
- Agriculture is the chief source of livelihood
- Few homes or other buildings
- Open swath of land
- Not very many people
- Population density is very low
Rural areas, because of their spread-out populations, typically have less well-maintained infrastructure and a harder time accessing services such as healthcare and education.
