Rural communities are more physically active in Indonesia: the results on Indonesian national survey data

Introduction: Physical activity is an important component of maintaining physical and mental health, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases and improving cognitive function. However, nearly a quarter of the global adult population is physically inactive, with factors such as geographic location (urban vs. rural) and socioeconomic conditions influencing participation levels. Objective: To identify differences in physical activity levels between urban and rural communities in Indonesia and to identify the influence of residential location, wealth, and age on physical activity. Methodology: This study used data from the 5th wave of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS), with a sample of 20,611 respondents (57.4% urban, 42.6% rural). Physical activity levels were measured based on the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) and analyzed using ANCOVA (with residence as a fixed factor, and wealth and age as covariates) and Bayesian ANCOVA to compare predictive models. Results: Significant difference in physical activity between urban and rural areas (F = 100.893, *p* < 0.001), with rural communities being more active. Wealth level had a significant effect (F = 44.894, *p* < 0.001), while age did not (*p* = 0.428). The best model in the Bayesian analysis included both residence and wealth (posterior probability: 96.7%), confirming the importance of geographic and economic context. Conclusions: Rural communities in Indonesia are more physically active, compared to urban communities. Public health policies need to prioritize location-based interventions. Further studies are needed to explore other factors such as access to infrastructure and community perceptions of physical activity.