This study aims to explain entrepreneurial behavior in rural areas based on social capital and perceived spatial quality with the mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. The research is applied in purpose and descriptive-correlational in nature with a quantitative approach. The statistical population consists of villages in the central district of Ijroud County. Due to the large study area and cost constraints, 10 villages were selected through simple random sampling (lottery method). These villages comprise 2,766 households. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample of 384 households was determined and allocated proportionally across villages. Data were collected via an 83-item questionnaire on a five-point Likert scale. Reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha (0.92 for the overall questionnaire) and validity by confirmatory factor analysis. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and the bootstrap method. Findings indicated good model fit, with the research variables explaining 68% of the variance in entrepreneurial behavior. Perceived spatial quality was the strongest predictor of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (β = 0.506), and self-efficacy exerted a strong positive effect on entrepreneurial behavior (β = 0.499). The total effect of spatial quality on entrepreneurial behavior (0.348) exceeded that of social capital (0.288). The effect of spatial quality operated mainly through the mediation of self-efficacy, whereas social capital showed no significant direct effect on entrepreneurial behavior, and self-efficacy did not significantly mediate this relationship. Policymakers are advised to improve rural spatial quality, strengthen entrepreneurial self-efficacy through education and empowerment, and diversify social capital toward bridging and linking forms to foster entrepreneurial behavior in rural areas.