The center of diversity of the genus is in the Malesian ecoregion of Southeast Asia, particularly in Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula.

More than 27 species in the genus bear edible, fleshy fruits, especially the common mango (M. indica).

[5] Mango wastes, such as the seed kernel and peel, have high functional and nutritional potential.

[7] The earliest fossil species thought to be related to Mangifera is Eomangiferophyllum damalgiriense from the upper Paleocene in northeastern India.

Leaf fossils confidently assignable to Mangifera have been collected from Oligocene or early Miocene sediments in northern Thailand.