The main purpose of this study was to identify rural youths’ entrepreneurial intentions in the western
part of Iran. The research also sought to investigate impacts of socio demographic traits on this
intention. The study concentrated on the population of 15 to 28 years old rural youth (boys) in
Kermanshah Province, west of Iran. A sample of 351 rural youth was selected through a stratified
random sampling. The results showed that approximately one third of respondents had high and very
high entrepreneurial intentions. In general, the rural youth intended to become future entrepreneurs
moderately (equal to 3 in a Lykert scale). A stepwise multiple regression revealed six factors to be
statistically significant determinants of entrepreneurial intentions namely: relation with parents, attitude
towards agriculture, work experience, intent to migrate, parents’ level of income, and parents’
educational level. Motivating rural youth through their parents’ support, supporting agricultural
activities and running entrepreneurship training courses, could significantly strengthen rural youth
attitudes towards local rural environment opportunities and its everyday activities. This can
consequently reinforce entrepreneurial intentions and behavior in rural areas.