Rural areas are synonymous with underdevelopment, especially in the Global South. The study has appraised the underdevelopment of rural communities and its impacts on the rural quality of life (RQoL) of Burutu Local Government Area, Nigeria. The study adopted a mixed-method research approach utilising a sequential explanatory design. The study employed simple random and judgemental sampling techniques to select respondents (inhabitants) and key informants. A total of 226 communities were identified, and 45 communities (representing 20%) were randomly selected for the study. Three hundred ninety-seven (397) respondents were determined using the Taro Yamane formula at a 3.2% growth rate for sampling. Judgmentally, eight (8) key informants from MDAs and Town Planners were interviewed. The study found that the population structure of the study area is bottom-heavy, mainly attained secondary education, engaged predominantly in civil service, trading/business, teaching, technical/artistry and fishing, earning less than N90,000 monthly. The study further found that the inability of the government to identify and develop existing resources, lack of economic policy and plans, political instability and insecurity, and the government’s inability to provide adequate basic infrastructure are the major causes of underdevelopment in the LGA. The findings showed that the impacts of the underdevelopment on RQoL are migration to urban areas, insecurity and conflicts, backwardness in communities, increased poverty and unemployment. The findings indicate that 61.9% of inhabitants rate the satisfactory level of QoL as dissatisfied. The following recommendations were suggested: the government should make deliberate policies and plan to develop available resources; the government, international development agencies and the private sector should synergise to provide basic infrastructure and services; the government should improve the human capacity of the inhabitants by providing skill acquisition platforms and initiatives, and a development framework to promote inclusiveness and participation of community members and all stakeholders in the decision-making process to enhance cooperation, sustainability and governance in the Local Government Area.
