SQA National 5 Geography Practice Exam

The term that accurately describes the ongoing trend of people leaving the countryside is "Rural depopulation." This concept specifically refers to the decrease in population density in rural areas as individuals and families migrate to urban centers, often in search of better employment opportunities, education, and amenities available in cities.

Rural depopulation highlights the broader social and economic changes affecting rural communities, leading to challenges such as reduced workforce, loss of services, and changes in land use. It captures the essence of the demographic shifts occurring as more people choose to relocate from rural environments to urban settings.

While the other terms also relate to migration patterns, they have different nuances. For example, suburbanization refers specifically to the movement of people from urban areas to suburban areas. Rural exodus describes the act of leaving rural areas but does not encompass the broader implications of population decline. Urban migration, on the other hand, focuses on the movement towards urban areas but doesn't specifically address the impact on rural populations.