There are about 453 genera and more than 3750 species (cosmopolitan but mainly temperate regions), of which 28 genera and 137 species are indigenous in southern Africa and a further eight genera and 15 species have been introduced to this region and become naturalised. There are many further species that are under cultivation. This family contains many important medicinal and culinary herbs and there are also some species eaten as vegetables.

There are about 59 genera and 800 species in this family, which occurs in most parts of the world with the Malaysian region being particularly species rich. In southern Africa there are 5 genera and about 18 species, some naturalised. 

There are nine genera and about 200 species (Tropics and subtropics from Africa to the Pacific; not in America). Eight of the nine genera are endemic to the Australasian region. Pittosporum viridiflorum is the only species indigenous to southern Africa. In addition, there are two additional species of Pittosporum that have become naturalised and Hymenosporum flavum. Further species in the Pittosporaceae are cultivated in gardens in southern Africa.