Background The empowerment of rural women is a key dimension for achieving gender equity and sustainable development. With this purpose, the present study analyzed the patterns and trends of scientific production on this topic using the Scopus database. Methodology A quantitative approach was employed through bibliometric and scientometric techniques, using a collection of 376 documents (1983–2024). Through Bibliometrix (R) and VOSviewer, we identified co-authorship networks, thematic clusters, conceptual evolution, and indicators of productivity and impact. Results Scientific production has shown sustained growth since 2015, driven by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the increasing visibility of structural inequalities. The findings highlight institutional dispersion and limited international collaboration. Authors such as Mudhara M and Aziz N stand out for their recent impact. Semantic analysis reveals the centrality of terms such as agency, gender equality, and rural development. The structural thematic map shows that concepts like women’s rights and economic factors drive the field, while categories such as empowerment and leadership require further theoretical consolidation. Publication year spectroscopy reveals historical roots in the foundational works of Freire, Boserup, and Kabeer, who introduced emancipatory, relational, and critical perspectives on empowerment—now reinterpreted through intersectional approaches. Conclusions The field has achieved conceptual maturity but still faces challenges related to methodological integration and global collaboration. It is recommended to broaden the analysis to other databases, strengthen scientific networks, and incorporate more integrative approaches into the contemporary rural agenda.
Meléndez et al. (Tue,) studied this question.