It is also the sole living representative of the subfamily Mellivorinae.

The honey badger is native to much of Africa and South Asia, while fossil relatives occurred in those areas and Southern Europe.

The genus Mellivora probably evolved from the more primitive †Promellivora punjabiensis of India (which itself was formerly classified as M. punjabiensis).

The two genera are grouped together in the tribe Eomellivorini together with the extinct giant mustelids †Eomellivora and †Ekorus.

[3] Mellivora benfieldi is considered a likely ancestor of the living honey badger.