The Three Levels of the Rural Digital Divide in China: Spatial Patterns and Regional Disparities

ABSTRACT Although rural digitalization has gained widespread recognition as a critical pathway to bridge the urban–rural digital divide, the persistent digital inequalities between and within rural regions—key barriers to rural digital development—have long been overlooked. This study develops a tri‐dimensional analytical framework integrating digital access, digital usage, and digital outcomes. Utilizing data from 1804 county‐level units in China and employing the Gini coefficient, variance decomposition, and geographical detector methods, we systematically examine the spatial patterns, regional disparities, and driving mechanisms of the rural digital divide. The findings reveal that: (1) The rural digital divide exhibits pronounced polarization, demonstrating an east‐to‐west gradient of declining digital development; (2) significant regional disparities exist, with coastal areas facing more substantial gaps in digital outcomes, inland regions predominantly challenged by digital usage disparities, and northwestern areas encountering the most severe digital access barriers; (3) the driving mechanisms display marked regional heterogeneity—coastal areas benefit from a synergistic multi‐factor driving model, whereas inland regions rely on single‐factor dominance, resulting in higher risks of digital exclusion. Accordingly, this study proposes tailored policy recommendations. The findings not only provide novel insights into understanding China's rural digital divide but also offer valuable implications for developing countries pursuing inclusive digital transformation.