| Urban settlements | Rural settlements |
| Urban settlements usually refer to cities, suburbs and towns. | Rural settlements usually refer to villages |
| Urban areas have more development in terms of access to infrastructure and connectivity like airports, ports, railways, housing, roads etc. | Rural areas usually don’t have much development in terms of infrastructure. |
| Urban areas are densely populated | Rural areas are sparsely populated |
| Urban settlements depend on the processing of raw materials and manufacturing of finished goods on one hand and a variety of services on the other | The rural settlements derive their life support or basic economic needs from land-based primary economic activities |
| In urban areas, the way of life is complex and fast, and social relations are formal. | Rural people are less mobile and therefore, social relations among them are intimate. |
Further Reading:
| Related Links | |
| What are urban areas? | Which is the largest urban agglomeration in India? |
| Geography Questions in UPSC Prelims | IAS Preparation |
| Take IAS Mock Tests | Geography Questions and Answers for UPSC |
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