Objective: We aimed to examine the differences in fitness components between rural and urban Spanish children and adolescents. Design/method: A sample of 2569 school children (1068) and adolescents (1501) from urban and rural areas from the region of Aragon (Spain). Physical fitness was assessed by 7 tests: 20 m shuttle run, speed shuttle run, sit and reach, standing long jump, handgrip strength, bent arm hang and sit-ups in 30s (s). Differences (in fitness and anthropometry) by place of residence were examined by one-way analysis of covariance. Results: Rural young people had higher cardiorespiratory fitness, but lower speed-agility and flexibility than urban young people (all p<0.001; mean differences = 1.5 mL/kg per min, 0.4s and 0.9 cm respectively). Regarding muscular fitness, rural young people had a better performance in handgrip strength (mean difference = 0.8 kg), bent arm hang (mean difference =2.3 s), and a lower performance in sit-ups in 30s (mean difference = 0.9 s) (all p < 0.001), compared to their urban peers. Rural young people had a lower body mass, body mass index (BMI) and sum of skinfolds (all p<0.05; mean differences = 1.1 kg, 0.3 kg/m(2) and 4.9 mm respectively) than their urban peers. Effect size was small-medium (Cohen's d=0.1-0.3). Conclusion: Rural Spanish children and adolescents had overall a healthier profile than their urban peers in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness, upper- and lower-limb muscular fitness and adiposity, while they performed worse in speed-agility and flexibility. The place of residence should be taken into account when implementing effective interventions to promote physical activity and health. (C) 2011 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.