The native distribution of this species is Holarctic.
The freshwater pearl mussel can be found on both sides of the Atlantic, from the Arctic and temperate regions of western Russia, through Europe to northeastern North America.

North America: eastern Canada and New England in the United States' Northeast.

Europe, including:
Austria - estimated total population of 70 000 individuals in Mühlviertel (declining) and in Waldviertel (some recruitment), in the states of Upper and Lower Austria, respectively.

Belgium
Czech Republic - critically endangered (CR).
In Bohemia, probably locally extinct in Moravia.
Listed in Decree for implementation, No.
395/1992 Sb. (
Czech code) (in Czech: Vyhláška 395/1992 Sb.
ve znění vyhl.
175/2006 Sb.)
as Critically Threatened species.
Its conservation status in 2004-2006 was bad (U2) in a report for the European commission in accordance with Habitats Directive.

Denmark
Estonia
Fennoscandia - vulnerable in Finland and Norway, endangered in Sweden.
Very rare in southern Finland, more common in the north.
Widespread but not common in Norway; Norway is considered to host a large proportion of the European stock.
Rare in Sweden.
Also in Kola Peninsula and Karelia (Russia) (see below).

France
Germany - critically endangered (vom Aussterben bedroht).
Listed as strictly protected species in annex 1 in Bundesartenschutzverordnung.

Great Britain.
More than half the world's recruiting population exists in Scotland with populations in more than 50 rivers, mainly in the Highlands, although illegal harvesting has seriously affected their survival.
75% of sites surveyed in 2010 had suffered "significant and lasting criminal damage" and in response the police and Scottish Natural Heritage have launched a campaign to protect the species.
This species has been fully protected in the United Kingdom under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 since 1998 and partly protected according to section 9(1) since 1991.

Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain)
Ireland.
The Cladagh (Swanlinbar) river contains one of the largest populations surviving in northern Ireland, estimated minimum 10,000, confined to a 6 km stretch of undisturbed river in the middle section.

Luxembourg
Latvia
Lithuania - extinct
Poland - extinct
Russian Federation - in the rivers of the White Sea basin of the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk Regions.
It is east border of the area of distribution M. margaritifera.
The native distribution of this species is Holarctic. The freshwater pearl mussel can be found on both sides of the Atlantic, from the Arctic and temperate regions of western Russia, through Europe to northeastern North America.
North America: eastern Canada and New England in the United States' Northeast.
Europe, including:
Austria - estimated total population of 70 000 individuals in Mühlviertel (declining) and in Waldviertel (some recruitment), in the states of Upper and Lower Austria, respectively.
Belgium
Czech Republic - critically endangered (CR). In Bohemia, probably locally extinct in Moravia. Listed in Decree for implementation, No. 395/1992 Sb. (Czech code) (in Czech: Vyhláška 395/1992 Sb. ve znění vyhl. 175/2006 Sb.) as Critically Threatened species. Its conservation status in 2004-2006 was bad (U2) in a report for the European commission in accordance with Habitats Directive.
Denmark
Estonia
Fennoscandia - vulnerable in Finland and Norway, endangered in Sweden. Very rare in southern Finland, more common in the north. Widespread but not common in Norway; Norway is considered to host a large proportion of the European stock. Rare in Sweden. Also in Kola Peninsula and Karelia (Russia) (see below).
France
Germany - critically endangered (vom Aussterben bedroht). Listed as strictly protected species in annex 1 in Bundesartenschutzverordnung.
Great Britain. More than half the world's recruiting population exists in Scotland with populations in more than 50 rivers, mainly in the Highlands, although illegal harvesting has seriously affected their survival. 75% of sites surveyed in 2010 had suffered "significant and lasting criminal damage" and in response the police and Scottish Natural Heritage have launched a campaign to protect the species. This species has been fully protected in the United Kingdom under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 since 1998 and partly protected according to section 9(1) since 1991.
Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain)
Ireland. The Cladagh (Swanlinbar) river contains one of the largest populations surviving in northern Ireland, estimated minimum 10,000, confined to a 6 km stretch of undisturbed river in the middle section.
Luxembourg
Latvia
Lithuania - extinct
Poland - extinct
Russian Federation - in the rivers of the White Sea basin of the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk Regions. It is east border of the area of distribution M. margaritifera.
Freshwater pearl mussel