Overall Evaluation on the Level of Rural Economic Development in 31 Regions of China

Taking China Rural Statistical Yearbook in 2008 as the data source, we select 10 indices scientifically and rationally. By using SPSS statistical software, factor analysis method and cluster analysis method in multivariate statistical analysis, we conduct analysis on the level of rural economic development in 31 provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government, autonomous regions in China. Finally we extract 4 composite factors and offer the overall ranking of them. We divide the 31 regions of China into four types, namely the regions with developed agricultural economy, the regions with relatively developed agricultural economy, the regions with less-developed agricultural economy, and the regions with underdeveloped agricultural economy.