Global Research Development on Smart Village and Rural Digital Transformation: A Bibliometric Study

Abstract

The concepts of Smart Village and rural digital transformation have gained increasing attention as strategic approaches to promoting sustainable rural development, reducing the digital divide, and enhancing community resilience in the digital era. Over the past decade, governments, international organizations, and researchers have increasingly emphasized the role of digital technologies in improving public services, economic opportunities, social inclusion, and governance in rural areas. This study aims to analyze the global development of research on Smart Village and rural digital transformation through a bibliometric approach. Data were collected from internationally indexed scientific publications and analyzed using performance analysis and science mapping techniques. The study examines publication trends, influential authors, countries, institutions, journals, citation structures, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution within the field. The findings reveal a significant increase in scholarly interest, particularly after 2018, driven by advances in digital technologies and growing policy attention to rural innovation. Major research themes include digital infrastructure, smart governance, rural sustainability, digital inclusion, community empowerment, smart agriculture, and rural entrepreneurship. Emerging topics such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), smart ecosystems, and data-driven rural development indicate the evolving nature of the field. The study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive overview of the intellectual structure and research trends related to Smart Village and rural digital transformation, while identifying future research opportunities to support sustainable and inclusive rural development.