China (mainland), Japan, Laos, Myanmar, North Korea (B), Russia (Asian), South Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand, Vietnam.
Vagrant to Nepal, Philippines.
Breeds south-eastern Russia (southern Ussuriland), north-eastern China (south-eastern Heilongjiang), Korea, southern Sakhalin I, southern Kuril Is, Japan and Ryukyu Is. Non-breeding south-eastern China, Taiwan and south-eastern Asia.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps) [XC748896]
by Grant Fisher from Pak Sha O, Sai Kung District, New Territories, Hong Kong, China (subsong)
Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps) [XC844435]
by Hans Matheve from Yeongweol, Gangwon-do, South Korea (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Frequently placed in genus Cettia.
Proposed subspecies ussuriana (from Ussuri Valley, in eastern Siberia) based on individuals in worn spring plumage (compared with fresh non-breeding plumage), and generally considered unwarranted.