It is found in Southeast Asia—Sumatra, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, and various smaller islands like in Sulu archipelago such as Tawi-Tawi, where it inhabits rainforests and mangrove forests.

It can reproduce from the age of 18 months, and can be cross-bred with other species in the family Suidae.

It is also found in Tawi-Tawi province at the tip of the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines, although this population possibly has been extirpated,[2] and S. b. oi is from the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.

Genetic evidence suggests this is incorrect, and S. b. oi is better limited to Sumatra, leaving bearded pigs from both Borneo and the Malay Peninsula in the nominate subspecies.

The death of Neo, the last Bornean bearded pig held in Europe, was announced by Berlin zoo via Facebook on 28 February 2024.