It was formed on 25 February 2021 as the agency superseding the former State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

[4] On 16 May 1986, the Office of the Leading Group for Economic Development in Poverty Stricken Areas of the State Council (国务院贫困地区经济开发领导小组办公室) was created, which was reshuffled as the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (国务院扶贫开发领导小组) on 17 September 1993.

In 2015, the Guide to Construct Beautiful Countryside was enacted "to achieve benign ecological, social, and economic rural development.

"[7] Rural areas in China also suffer from environmental degradation and brain drain.

[8] On 25 February 2021, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development was renamed to the National Rural Revitalization Administration.