"At least 25" subspecies have been described (Speybroeck et al. 2016), but the only morphological and genetic study of diversity across the species' entire range concluded that variation is incongruent with traditional subspecific divisions (Pérez-Cembranos et al. 2020). These authors elected not to revise the subspecific taxonomy of this species, but propose recognizing every isolated population as an Evolutionarily Significant Unit.

This species is endemic to Europe, where it is restricted to the Balearic Islands of Spain. The extent of occurrence (9,355 km²) and area of occupancy (estimated to be less than 250 km²) are both restricted, however, the species is not considered to be severely fragmented. It is assessed as Near Threatened under Criterion D2 on the basis that, while this species is abundant on most islands where it occurs and may occur at more than 10 locations defined by a plausible future threat from invasive snakes, it has been lost historically from the larger islands within its range and should whipsnakes or another strong-swimming snake be introduced it could be driven to become Endangered, as seen in the case of the related Ibiza Wall Lizard.

This species is endemic to the Balearic Islands of Spain, where it is now restricted to small, rocky islands off the larger islands of Menorca and Mallorca, and it also occurs on the Cabrera Archipelago south of Mallorca. Although it is not currently present as native on either main island, it has been reintroduced to localised areas of at least Mallorca (Speybroeck et al. 2016).

It is known from a total of 43 insular subpopulations (Pérez-Mellado et al. 2008). It is presumed that, in common with other native vertebrates, it was eradicated from the larger islands by the introduction of invasive predators and competitors that accompanied human colonisation around 2,000 years ago, as it survives today only on islets where exotic predators other than rats are absent (Pérez-Mellado et al. 2008). This is supported by the existence of fossil material on the larger islands which has been ascribed to this species (Bailón 2004, Bover et al. 2014). It is a lowland species.

This species is extremely common on some islands, although subpopulations may be small on some of the smallest islands. Densities are extremely variable for reasons which remain unclear, having been estimated from less than 35 to more than 8,000 individuals /ha, but on some of the smallest islands as few as 10 were detected (Pérez-Mellado et al. 2008). Mark-recapture surveys over three days on three islands produced estimated densities of 1,500 to 2,500 individuals/ha (Ruiz de Infante Anton et al. 2013). Densities are lowest on islands to which ship rats have been introduced, but rat eradication has not been found to increase population densities (Pérez-Mellado et al. 2008). Some small subpopulations are still liable to be lost.

This species is essentially ubiquitous within its extant range, occurring in all habitats on these islets (Speybroeck et al. 2016). It occurs in arid rocky areas and in scrubland, including littoral scrub and maquis. The females may lay three clutches annually consisting of one to three eggs.

It is believed that the introduction of predators, including cats and snakes, resulted in the extinction of the species from the main islands of Mallorca and Menorca. Extant subpopulations are threatened by the translocation of invasive predators between islands by visitors. Animals in the heavily-touristed area of Aire Island have been found to exhibit lower body condition and increased parasite loads during the summer tourist season (Garrido and Pérez-Mellado 2014). These authors hypothesise that this may exacerbate stress from regular drought, as the tourist and drought seasons coincide.

The most serious threat to this species' survival is likely to be the potential introduction of invasive snakes: four species have been recorded as introductions to the Balearic Islands in the 21st Century, one of which, the Ladder Snake (Zamenis scalaris), has been recorded from Mallorca (Silva-Rocha et al. 2015). Montes et al. (2021a,b) documented extremely rapid declines in the Ibiza Wall Lizard following the expansion of the invasive Horseshoe Whip Snake Hemorrhois hippocrepis since 2010, including the eradication of individual islet subpopulations, causing it to become Endangered. This species has been detected swimming far from the shore of the main island (Montes et al. 2021a), suggesting that it may be a particular threat to Lilford's Wall Lizard should the snake reach Mallorca, Menorca or Cabrera.

This species may be impacted through eating poisoned bait left for seagulls and rats. Densities have been found to be lower on islands following rat eradication than on those with rats (Pérez-Mellado et al. 2008), and the loss of vegetation on some islands due to overgrazing by goats. Some subpopulations are inherently at risk because of their small sizes and restricted ranges.

Although the previous Red List assessment of this species (Pérez-Mellado and Martínez-Solano 2009) suggested that illegal collection for the pet trade may threaten this species, this species appears not to be in the pet trade in any significant numbers.

The species is listed on Annex II of the Bern Convention and on Appendix II of CITES. It is listed as Vulnerable by regional conservation managers (Viada 2006). Pérez-Cembranos et al. (2020) propose treating every genetically isolated subpopulation as a distinct Evolutionarily Significant Unit. This species is present in the Parque Nacional de Cabrera and the Parques Naturales de Dragonera and Albufera des Grau. An education campaign is in place. There is a need to control visits to the islands where this species is present. It is considered especially important to prevent snake introductions to the islets surrounding Menorca, Mallorca and Cabrera (Silva-Rocha et al. 2015), but presently no controls exist to prevent snake introduction to these islands (M. Carretero pers. comm. 2022).