Answer:
The settlement in rural areas have considerably declined over the past few decades. It is because the rural places are still not yet developed. They are lacking in a good education system, job opportunities, and a few more. The main source of income of the people living in rural areas is by growing crops in their agricultural fields.
It is due to these drawbacks, many people from rural areas migrate to urban areas, in search of jobs and try to improve their economic condition. These people, with time, eventually settles in the urban areas.
Thus, rural settlement have declined to a great extent.