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) [XC642247]
by Tony Archer from City of Matlosana (near Hartbeesfontein), Southern DC, North West, South Africa (call)
Violet-eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina) [XC292033]
by Frank Lambert from Polokwane Game Reserve, Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa (call)
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.