The article analyzes the scientific approaches to the formation of the definition of "rural areas". Rural development is a system of interaction between national, economic and social spheres, the operation of which is subject to the interests of farmers, industry and society. Therefore there is the need to find adequate tools to adapt domestic economic environment of the country and in order to villagers were able to get proper quality of existence on the territory of residence. These conditions require a rethinking of the nature and objectives of rural development policy. The value of rural areas is increasing because organic foundation of rural development is the development of rural areas, what by its nature is complex and multifaceted process. Rural areas provide food security and provide increase export potential. The current stage of development of agrarian sector of Ukraine characterizes globalization and European integration. This is a prerequisite to the formation of methodological and applied the principles of social and economic development of rural areas. These conditions require a rethinking of the nature and objectives of rural development policy, because the agricultural economy in the context of globalization and European integration is characterized by systemic features and significant structural changes. However, to date there is no clear systematic ordering of concepts, scientific and organizational basis for rural development, the foundation of which, of course, is figuring out the essence of the concept of rural areas. In general, there are different categories. However, Ukraine is gradually crystallized theoretical basis and proper national policy of rural development. However, most modern legal documents functioning and development of rural areas is considered as a spatial framework for the development of agricultural production and agribusiness. In our opinion, in the modern sense of the rural area is a complex and multifunctional system capable of self-organization, which combines the natural geographical and industrial-economic zone political subdivisions in rural areas.