A collection of indicators measuring the access to services in European rural areas

The level of accessibility and the availability of digital connectivity are two criticalcomponents of rural areas. On the one hand, the lack of accessibility due to remotenessand inadequate infrastructure is a key aspect that identifies rural regions. Sparselypopulated areas often struggle with limited public transportation options, forcingresidents to heavily rely on private vehicles. Distance to essential services like hospitalsand schools also plays a crucial role. This lack of local options can limit access to socialand economic opportunities, hindering rural development and potentially leading to anincreasing migration to urban areas. On the other hand, the digital divide also stronglyaffects these areas. Broadband connectivity has become increasingly important in theeconomic sector and the personal lives of users. It facilitates daily life activities, such aseducation, digital banking services, access to health care and even social connection.However, broadband availability and usage are not diffusing in rural areas as in urbanones. Rural regions lack the infrastructure needed for high-speed internet, and the lowdigital literacy obstructs economic opportunities, educational attainment, and overallquality of life for rural communities. This paper seeks to offer an overview of open dataindicators measuring factors linked to accessibility to services and digital divide of ruralareas. Firstly, the study delves into the main EU open data portals to collect availableindicators of European territory aimed at estimating accessibility and connectivityfeatures, such as distance to essential healthcare facilities and educational institutions,availability of public transportation options and broadband connectivity quality.Secondly the paper analyses the features of the data gathered, highlighting differencesand gaps. The outcomes of this study offer the opportunity to evaluate rural areasaccessibility and connectivity, starting from the data collected, and design moreeffective policies for rural regions.