Abstract: The subject of the study is the dominant trends in the development of the social infrastructure of rural areas of the Republic of Mordovia. The author focuses on the fact that underestimation of the role of social infrastructure and a rather long period of its financing on a residual basis led to an increase in territorial imbalances in its development. Most of the social infrastructure facilities are concentrated in cities and district centers, and rural settlements are still significantly inferior to them in the level of infrastructure provision. The problems of physical deterioration of social infrastructure facilities, as well as the low level of their transport accessibility for the population living far from district centers remain relevant. The unevenness of social living conditions in rural settlements with different populations persists in almost all municipal districts of the republic. A detailed analysis of the structural elements of the social infrastructure of rural areas of the Republic of Mordovia indicates that the preservation of bipolar conditions of territorial development remains the dominant trend. The scientific novelty of this study is to identify territorial imbalances in the level of development of the social infrastructure of rural areas and to develop practical recommendations aimed at reducing them and increasing the infrastructural potential. According to the author, this will largely be facilitated by construction, bringing infrastructure facilities in line with modern requirements, ensuring balanced development of social infrastructure systems, etc. Special attention should be paid to improving the regulatory framework for the development of rural social infrastructure, creating conditions for attracting investment in the social sphere of the village.