The African Mecopod is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. It is possible, however, that Western and Central African populations are genetically distinct from the South African one. In South Africa, this species is known from the eastern part of the country from Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces and Swaziland.
No information on population sizes or trends is available.
No specific conservation measures are in place for this species but it has a widespread distribution.