Lesser mouse-eared bats can be found in the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,[2] China, Croatia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.

The species is decreasing in population due to the pollution and changes in land management.

Herders in Syria and Turkey light fires at cave mouths for their livestock disturbing the bats.

[1] It is protected in most of Europe by Bonn and Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.

In some European countries, the caves are closed with fences so that visitors do not disturb them.