E. orbicularis is found in southern, central, and eastern Europe, West Asia and parts of Mediterranean North Africa.

[5] In the early post-glacial period, the European pond turtle had a much wider distribution, being found as far north as southern Sweden and Great Britain,[6] where a reintroduction has been proposed by the Staffordshire-based Celtic Reptile & Amphibian, a group specialising in the care, research, and rehabilitation of native European and British herpetiles.

[7] A trial reintroduction has been initiated, restoring the species back to its Holocene-native East Anglian Fens, Brecks and Broads.

[11] They are usually considered to be only semi-aquatic (similar to American box turtles), as their terrestrial movements can span 1 km (0.62 mi).

[12] Due to evident patterns of sexual dimorphism, E. orbicularis adult males are always found to be smaller than females.

In females, due to their differential diet and foraging habits, there may be a correlation to an adaptive effect on their skull and head morphology.

[12] E. orbicularis eats a mixed diet of plants and animal matter that can increase the efficiency of its digestive process.

[11] As E. orbicularis grows in age and becomes an adult, the amount of plant material consumption increases during the post breeding period.

E. orbicularis may prefer less energetic food after the breeding season, a period of time where most of its energy is spent to recover from reproduction.

If the environmental conditions of a nesting site change, this may influence the development of the eggs, the survival of the hatchlings and/or their sex ratio.

The building of roads and driving of cars through natural habitats is a possible factor that threatens the populations of the European pond turtle.

[citation needed] Historically, E. orbicularis had been maintained as pets; however, this practice has been restricted due to protection laws.

[16] The population of E. orbicularis in Ukraine is listed under Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).