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For many years, the question of rural youth in Latin America has been almost invisible for social scientists and public policymakers. This situation began to change in the mid-1980s, but it was still very much an area of research in its infancy. This article is an overview of the current state of research into rural youth in the region, pointing out both achievements and significant gaps. The subjects covered include the definition of rural youth and identity, family and gender relations, education, the working world, social and political participation, migration, and the youth of native peoples. Although at first glance the subject matter does not appear to differ greatly from topics generally covered in research on urban youth, the findings point to the particularities that distinguish these young people from their urban counterparts.