Difference between rural and urban population

The rural population It is the group of people who live in the fields, far from the metropolises. The urban population She is the one who lives in the big cities.

Many times, people who live in cities have moved from rural areas in search of opportunities for work, study or leisure activities.

For this reason the population density is higher in urban areas and the most reduced compared to rural areas.

According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography of Mexico, a population is rural when it has less than 2,500 inhabitants, and it is considered urban when it is made up of more than 2,500 people.

Rural population	Urban population
Definition	Set of people who live in the field.	Set of people who live in industrialized cities.
Dimension	Low population density (the number varies depending on the country).	High density (can reach several million inhabitants).
Economic activity	Mainly from the primary sector (agriculture, livestock and other forms of raw material production).	Secondary and tertiary sectors (industry, commerce and services).
living place	Horizontal (spacious houses).	Vertical (buildings).
Transport	Initially animal traction. Currently it also has motor vehicles, to a lesser extent compared to urban areas.	Motor vehicles.
Advantage	The environment does not suffer great damage. The cost of living is lower. You suffer less stress thanks to the calm pace of life.	They have better prepared infrastructure and services. There is a higher rate of employment. They have all kinds of products at their fingertips.
Disadvantages	They have fewer economic and technological resources. Fewer job opportunities. Poor education and health conditions.	Greater contamination in all aspects. You suffer more stress due to the fast pace of life. The cost of living is much higher.
Examples	The maslay They are rural populations found in Kenya and Tanzania, where they live as herdsmen.	Tokyo, in Japan, has the largest urban population in the world with almost 35 million inhabitants.

What is rural population?

They are smaller populations than urban ones, they live in areas far from big cities. The geographical spaces where they are found are usually quite large, generally they are fields.

The rural population is usually engaged in raw material production, such as agriculture, livestock and fishing. Therefore, they make a fundamental contribution to the agricultural production of a country, guaranteeing food for the entire population.

Because the rural population has fewer economic and technological resources than urban populations, there is higher unemployment and a decline in services.

The conditions of medical and care, educational and communication services are precarious. Generally, this is what causes the migration of the population towards urban areas.

The growth of urban centers since the 15th century has caused rural populations to lose power and importance, leaving many rural areas abandoned.

Characteristics of the rural population

1. They generally lead a more relaxed pace of life.
2. Their cost of living is low.
3. Normally it is dedicated to the economic activity of the primary sector.
4. The nature that surrounds it does not suffer great damage.
5. They do not have a variety of job and study offers.
6. The economic and technological resources at its disposal are scarce.

Examples of rural populations

• Gavidia, Venezuela.
• Guaitecas, Chile
• Pernambuco, Brazil.
• Mancomunados towns of Oaxaca, Mexico.
• Rio Negro, Argentina.

It may interest you to see rural area and urban area.

What is urban population?

It is the one that is made up of a greater number of people compared to those who live in rural areas. This population is found in the cities and in the big towns.

The area where the urban population develops is characterized by a further development economic, technological, educational and professional.

Access to the most advanced science and technology translates into a greater opportunity for education and employment in economic activities in the secondary and tertiary sector.

The urban population has a better infrastructure in all aspects, it is surrounded by a industrialization large-scale, producer of all kinds of products and services. Although this also entails problems such as the strong pollution produced by numerous factories, transport and people.

Furthermore, the large number of people that make up urban populations causes the development of neighborhood areas in marginalized areas, where they live in precarious conditions.

Characteristics of the urban population

1. You have all kinds of products and services at your fingertips.
2. It has a high employment rate.
3. It is surrounded by a modern infrastructure.
4. It is exposed to more contamination.
5. The cost of living is high.
6. You often suffer from stress due to the fast pace of life.

Examples of urban populations:

• Bogota Colombia.
• Caracas Venezuela.
• Mexico City, Mexico.
• Santiago de Chile, Chile.
• New York, USA.

Learn more about:

• Difference between rural and urban.
• Types of migration
• Types of pollution