<p>Individuals residing in rural areas are vulnerable to cognitive frailty; however, few studies have examined the factors affecting cognitive frailty in older adults living in these areas. This study aims to identify the prevalence of cognitive frailty and the factors affecting cognitive frailty according to sex in older adults living in rural areas. Data were collected from 376 older adults living in rural areas of the Chungcheong region of South Korea. The survey included participants’ sociodemographic, physical, and psychosocial variables, physical frailty, and cognitive function. The study defined cognitive frailty as a condition characterized by both physical frailty and cognitive impairment without dementia. The prevalence of cognitive frailty in males and females was 7.2% and 22.3%, respectively. In males, high nutritional scores decreased the likelihood of developing cognitive frailty. In females, older age was associated with an increased risk of cognitive frailty. Additionally, education at the elementary school level and above, high nutritional scores, and active social participation decreased the likelihood of cognitive frailty. Among modifiable factors, high nutritional scores reduced the likelihood of cognitive frailty in both males and females. In females, active social participation was an additional significant factor. These findings suggest that sex-specific interventions may help mitigate cognitive frailty among older adults in rural areas.</p>