Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Southern Angola, south-western Zambia and Zimbabwe south to Namibia, Botswana, northern South Africa (south to northern Northern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga) and southern Mozambique.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Violet-eared Waxbill (Granatina) [XC712384]
by Peter Boesman from JB Marks Local Municipality (near Buffelsvallei), Southern DC, North West, South Africa (call)
Violet-eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina) [XC635941]
by Andrew Spencer from JB Marks Local Municipality (near Buffelsvallei), Southern DC, North West, South Africa (call, wind noise)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
May form a superspecies with Purple Grenadier (Granatina ianthinogaster). Birds from near Okahandja, in central Namibia, described as subspecies siccata, and others from near Panda, in Inhambane district of Mozambique, as subspecies retusa, appear to differ little from those elsewhere in species' range.