Rural areas can be defined differently depending on the country. In general, a rural area has a low population density and relies on agriculture, forestry, or other non-urban industries. India defines rural as having a population under 15,000 or involving at least 75% of males in agriculture. The US considers rural as having under 2,500 residents or a population density under 1,000 per square mile. Over 60% of Pakistanis live in rural villages near cities relying on livestock and agriculture. Germany allocates over half its land to rural farming districts, maintaining equal development between rural and urban areas.

1. RURAL MARKETING

2. RURAL AREA - DEFINITION
A rural area is an open swath of land that has few homes or other buildings, and not very many
people. A rural areas population density is very low. Agricultural areas are commonly rural, as are other
types of areas such as forests.

3. The definition of ‘rural’ differ from country to country based on experience. It is difficult to identify rural places is
expected to be, it is hard to agree on a common definition of a rural area for statistical Purposes. Therefore, there
is no standard international definition of rural.
The definition may vary on various points such as-
- basic social services such as education and health care and of social insurance
- physical and telecommunications infrastructure
- access to financial services outside agricultural credit
- Density of an area
- Income level
- Agricultural Area, etc.
SWITZERLAND USA
GERMANY
AFRICA

4. DEFINATION OF RURAL IN INDIA
• Also known as the 'countryside' or a 'village' in India. It has low population density.
• Chief source of livelihood is agriculture, fishing, cottage industries, pottery etc.
• Planning Commission defines rural as, a town with a maximum population of 15,000 is considered rural in
nature. In these areas the panchayat makes all the decisions.
• The National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) defines ‘rural’ as follows:
 An area with a population up to 400 per square kilometer,
 Villages with clear surveyed boundaries but no municipal board,
 A minimum of 75% of male working population involved in agriculture and allied activities.
• RBI defines rural areas as those areas with a population of less than 49,000 (tier -3 to tier-6 cities).
• Rural India contributes a large chunk to India's GDP by way of agriculture, self-employment, services,
construction etc.
• The rural population currently accounts for one-third of the total Indian FMCG sales.

5. DEFINATION OF RURAL IN USA
• 84% of the United States' inhabitants live in suburban and urban areas.
• Rural areas comprise of open country and settlements with fewer than 2,500 residents; areas designated as rural can
have population densities as high as 999 per square mile or as low as 1 person per square mile.
• Children in rural areas had lower rates of poverty than those in urban areas, but more of them were uninsured.
• Rural households had lower median household income lower median home values, and lower monthly housing
costs for households paying a mortgage.
• A higher percentage owned their housing units “free and clear,” with no mortgage or loan.
• The rate of primary care physicians is lower in rural areas of the country.
• The green area on the map to the right represents all the area in the United States that is classified as rural
based on this definition

6. DEFINATION OF RURAL IN PAKISTAN
• About 64% of Pakistanis live in rural areas.
• Rural areas in Pakistan tend to be near cities and are peri-urban areas.
• Rural area in Pakistan being an area that does not come within an urban boundary. villagers of
commonly live in houses made of bricks, clay or mud. Socioeconomic status is often based upon the
ownership of agricultural land, which also may provide social prestige in village cultures.
• Most rural livelihoods is based upon the rearing of livestock include cattle and goats, which also
comprises a significant part of Pakistan's gross domestic product.
• However rural areas in Pakistan that are near cities are considered suburban areas or suburbs.

7. DEFINATION OF RURAL IN GERMANY
• Germany has 295 rural districts .
• Germany is among the largest agricultural producers in the European Union.
• More than half of Germany's territory – almost 19 million hectares– is used for farming and are located in the rural
areas.
• Almost 10% of employees in Germany has work linked directly or indirectly with the agricultural, forest and fisheries
sectors
• Unlike in some other European countries, where rural areas are known for being backward when compared to urban
areas, in Germany, the style is changing. Due to the country's policy of equal living conditions, this is not the case in
Germany.
• Rural areas receive nearly equivalent attention as the urban areas do. Also, through a special approach to rural
development, usually referred to as Village Renewal, the challenges of rural Germany are taken care of.