Which statement about urban-rural distribution across countries is accurate?

Which statement about urban-rural distribution across countries is accurate?

• A. Developed countries have more urban populations; developing countries have more rural populations.
• B. Developed countries have more rural populations than urban.
• C. Both have no urban population.
• D. Rural areas dominate in developed countries.

Answer: (A)

Development level shapes where people live. In developed countries, economies rely on services, manufacturing, and technology, which cluster in cities, so a large share of people live in urban areas. In many developing countries, agriculture remains a dominant activity and urban infrastructure is less extensive, so rural areas hold a larger portion of the population. That makes the statement accurate: urban populations are greater in developed countries, while rural populations are greater in developing countries. Urbanization is increasing in many developing nations, but the overall pattern by development level still holds. The other options conflict with what’s typically observed: rural areas aren’t dominating in developed nations, and both groups do have urban populations.

Development level shapes where people live. In developed countries, economies rely on services, manufacturing, and technology, which cluster in cities, so a large share of people live in urban areas. In many developing countries, agriculture remains a dominant activity and urban infrastructure is less extensive, so rural areas hold a larger portion of the population. That makes the statement accurate: urban populations are greater in developed countries, while rural populations are greater in developing countries. Urbanization is increasing in many developing nations, but the overall pattern by development level still holds. The other options conflict with what’s typically observed: rural areas aren’t dominating in developed nations, and both groups do have urban populations.