20+ Differences between Urban And Rural (Explained)

Ever wondered what exactly are urban and rural? And what differences do they have? Urban simply means an area whose surroundings are manmade and densely populated.

On the other hand, Rural means an area that is naturally existing and has a lesser population. Urban areas are surrounded by big buildings, supermarkets, malls, cemented roads, etc. In contrast, Rural areas are surrounded by agricultural farms and nature. 

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Key differences:

Urban:

  1. Urban areas have little to no contact with nature. 
  2. Urban areas are surrounded by man-made things like big buildings, cars, cemented roads, cinemas, etc. 
  3. Urban areas have all the facilities available such as hospitals, fire stations, educational institutions, shopping complexes, big IT companies, etc. 
  4. Urban life is sophisticated. 
  5. Urban life is full of Air, Wate,r and Noise pollution. 
  6. Urban areas are densely populated.

Rural:

  1. Rural areas have direct contact with nature. 
  2. Rural areas are surrounded by greenery. 
  3. Rural areas do not have the presence of urban facilities. 
  4. Rural life is relaxing. 
  5. There is little to no pollution in Rural areas. 
  6. Rural areas have a lesser population. 

Comparison Between Urban Areas And Rural Areas

ParameterUrban AreasRural Areas
IndustrializationIndustrialization is fully present in urban areas.Industrialization is generally absent in rural areas.
Educational InstitutionsUrban areas have all kinds of educational institutions present.Rural areas have limited educational institutions present.
Population DensityUrban areas are densely populated.Rural areas are sparsely populated.
SurroundingsUrban areas have manmade surroundings.Rural areas mainly have natural surroundings.
Technology DependenceUrban areas are largely dependent on technology.Rural areas are partially dependent on technology.
Cost of LivingLife is costlier in urban areas.Life is cheaper in rural areas.
Political BodyUrban areas have their own political bodies.Rural areas may or may not have their own political body.
InfrastructureUrban areas have a well-developed Infrastructure.Rural areas have an underdeveloped infrastructure.
LifeLife in Urban areas is complex.Life in rural areas is simple.
ExamplesBig cities and townsVillages

Major Differences Between Urban And Rural

What exactly is Urban?

Urban is simply an area with a dense population and many facilities. Urban areas include cities and towns.

These areas are densely populated because of the presence of employment opportunities, educational institutions, places of leisure interest, public transportation systems, and much more.

Urban areas provide huge employment opportunities because of the presence of so many big IT companies. 

Urban areas have both their advantages as well as disadvantages. The major advantages include employment opportunities and the availability of almost every facility.

On the other hand, the major disadvantage of the Urban areas is people are a sophisticated life 24/7.

Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, Urban areas have lost touch with our mother nature and have become full of pollution. 

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Characteristics of Urban Areas:

  1. Presence of their political corporation. 
  2. Presence of working women.
  3. Presence of all forms of transport facilities. 
  4. Presence of big IT companies. 
  5. Presence of an amazing healthcare system. 
  6. Presence of complex, stress-full life. 

What exactly is Rural?

A Rural is basically a smaller area located on the outskirts of the Urban areas. Employment opportunities present in Rural areas are agriculture-related work.

Thus, rural areas have a lesser population as most of the people flee from there to cities and towns in search of employment opportunities. Rural life is close to nature, simple, and peaceful.

Just like Urban areas, Rural areas also have their advantages and disadvantages. The major advantages of Rural areas are that life is pretty simple and is at peace. People stay close to their natural surroundings.

The major disadvantages of Rural areas are lack of employment opportunities, lack of good infrastructure, lack of educational institutions, lack of good public transportation system, etc.

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Characteristics of Rural areas: 

  1. Presence of dirt roads. 
  2. Presence of agricultural farms.
  3. Absence of Employment opportunities. 
  4. Women are seen rarely working in rural areas. 
  5. Absence of well-working healthcare and transportation system. 
  6. Presence of simple, stress-free life. 

The Contrast Between Urban And Rural

Origin

  • Urban areas: The word Urban originated from the Latin word “Urbanus,” which originated from the Latin word “urbs,” meaning city. 
  • Rural areas: The word Rural originated from Old French or Late Latin word “ruralis,” which originated from the Late Latin word “rus, rur” meaning country. 

Types

  • Urban areas: There are two types of Urban areas, namely Cities and Towns. 
  • Rural areas: Villages are Rural areas. 

Population

  • Urban areas: Urban areas are densely populated. 
  • Rural areas: Rural areas are sparsely populated. 

Employment Opportunities

  • Urban areas: Urban areas are full of employment opportunities. 
  • Rural areas: Rural areas lack employment opportunities. 

Pollution

  • Urban areas: Urban areas have lots of Air, Water, and Noise Pollution. 
  • Rural areas: Rural areas have little to no pollution. 

Location

  • Urban areas: Urban areas are the main areas and center of attraction. 
  • Rural areas: Rural areas are situated on the outskirts of the Urban areas. 

Size

  • Urban areas: Urban areas are larger in size. 
  • Rural areas: Rural areas are smaller in size. 

Transportation Facilities

  • Urban areas: Transportation facilities are easier to find in urban areas. 
  • Rural areas: Transportation facilities can be difficult to find in rural areas. 

Area Of Houses

  • Urban areas: Houses in urban areas have smaller areas.
  • Rural areas: Houses in rural areas have bigger areas. 

Leisure Places

  • Urban areas: Places of leisure interest are easier available in urban areas. 
  • Rural areas: Places of leisure interest are generally absent in rural areas. 

Scope Of Businesses

  • Urban areas: Start-up businesses have wider scope in urban areas. 
  • Rural areas: Start-up businesses have no scope in rural areas. 

Technology Dependence

  • Urban areas: Urban areas are highly reliant on technology. 
  • Rural areas: Technology dependence is very low in rural areas. 

Infrastructure

  • Urban areas: Infrastructure is fully developed in Urban areas. 
  • Rural areas: Infrastructure is underdeveloped in rural areas. 

Roads

I/C – Roads in Urban vs. Rural areas.

  • Urban areas: Urban areas have cemented roads. 
  • Rural areas: Rural areas have dirt or muddy roads. 

Hospitals

  • Urban areas: Urban areas have more than one multi-specialty hospital. 
  • Rural areas: Rural areas generally have small clinics. 

Conclusion

Just like there are developed and underdeveloped countries, there are the areas that are developed and the areas that are underdeveloped. The developed areas are called Urban areas, and the underdeveloped ones are called Rural areas.

Urban areas have all the facilities available, while rural areas lack those facilities except the basic ones.

Urban and Rural areas have major differences in terms of size, population density, educational institutions, public transportation & healthcare services, infrastructure, and much more, as discussed above. 


(FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How are towns different from villages?

Towns are the type of Suburban areas which have the presence of modern facilities. Suburban areas, main towns, are touched by urbanization and are on their way to becoming urban areas. 

Q2. Why is there lesser pollution in rural areas?

Unlike urban areas, rural areas do not have many Air Conditions, Generators, Public Transport, and Population to contribute to Pollution. Hence, Rural areas have lesser pollution than urban areas. 

Q3. How do Urban areas provide so many employment opportunities?

Urban areas are a hub of big IT companies, not only limited to that, and there are jobs in transportation facilities, shopping malls, cinemas, educational institutions, and much more. That is why urban areas are able to create employment opportunities. 

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