Abstract
Rural development through youth entrepreneurship contributes to sustainable development in the long term. The research aims to study the dynamics of youth entrepreneurship in rural areas, analyse trends in its development and develop strategies and recommendations to support young entrepreneurs, taking into account internal and external factors. To achieve the research objective, quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The dynamics of youth entrepreneurship in rural areas of Aktobe region over the past three years was analysed. These statistics were used to calculate a youth entrepreneurship activity index for rural areas of the region, based on the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) TEA (Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity) methodology. The SWOT analysis identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for youth entrepreneurship in rural areas. As a result of the TOWS analysis, strategies based on a combination of internal and external factors were developed. The authors argue that entrepreneurs’, i.e., young people in the context of this study, personal and professional characteristics must be considered when developing youth entrepreneurship strategies. They also emphasise the importance of considering the specifics of the location of entrepreneurial activity, i.e., the differences between rural and urban areas. The results of the study are the development of differentiated strategies, tailored to young entrepreneurs and rural areas, and comprehensive strategies in general. The study’s results can be used in scientific works on youth entrepreneurship and the development of youth business in rural areas, as well as in entrepreneurship education.