Santiria apiculata occurs in the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore. This species has been divided into three varieties. Var. pilosa and var. rubra are endemic to Borneo and widely distributed, but not as widespread as var. apiculata. In the Philippines, it is naturally found in low and medium elevation forests in various provinces and localities in Luzon to Mindanao islands while in Brunei Darussalam, it is occurring in dense mixed-dominant primary forests, secondary forests, lowland and hill dipterocarp forests, and montane forests. It can also be found in Indonesia and Malaysia on primary dryland and secondary forests, lowland mixed dipterocarp forests, hillside, limestone, and swamp/riparian forests. Specimens were also collected in low elevation dense forest in Papua New Guinea and in evergreen forest in north Singapore. It has a calculated extent of occurrence (EOO) of 8,021,627.969 km² based on currently available information. Though the population size is currently not known, a continuous decline is expected due to habitat-threatening effects of commodity-driven deforestation, illegal logging, shifting agriculture, and urbanization. However, despite these threats affecting the population and natural habitat quality, it is assessed globally as Least Concern (LC) given its numerous occurrences, very wide distribution, and expected abundance.

Santiria apiculata is native to the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore. This species has been divided into three varieties. Var. pilosa and var. rubra are endemic to Borneo and widely distributed, but not as widespread as var. apiculata. The typical form and variety apiculata predominantly occurs in the Philippines in low and medium elevation forests of Laguna, Lanao del Sur, Quezon, Samar and Sorsogon. It can also be found in Brunei Darussalam in dense mixed-dominant primary forests, secondary forests, lowland and hill dipterocarp forests, and montane forests of Belait District, Temburong District, and Tutong District. The species is also located in primary dryland and secondary forests, lowland mixed dipterocarp forests, hillside, limestone, and swamp/riparian forest in Indonesia in Kalimantan, Maluku (North, Obi Island, Bacan Island), Sulawesi Tengah, and Sumatra as well as in Malaysia at Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Trengganu. Specimens were also collected in low elevation dense forest of Papua New Guinea (Sudest Island, Milne Bay Province) and in evergreen forest of north Singapore (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve). It usually grows at an elevation of 10 to 1,520 metres above sea level. It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 8,021,627.969 km² accounting for its 146 identified localities that are continuously threatened commodity-driven deforestation, illegal logging, shifting agriculture, and urbanization (GFW 2020, GBIF.org 2021).

There is no information on the population size of the species. However, a decline is suspected due to continuous loss of primary forests within its distribution range.

The height of Santiria apiculata from the herbarium records ranges from 1.5 to 39.62 metres. In the Philippines, it can be naturally found in low and medium elevation forests while in Brunei Darussalam, it is located in dense mixed-dominant primary forests, secondary forests, lowland and hill dipterocarp forests, and montane forests. In Indonesia and Malaysia, the species is occurring in primary dryland and secondary forests, lowland mixed dipterocarp forests, hillside, limestone, and swamp/riparian forests. Specimens were also recorded in low elevation dense forest in Papua New Guinea and in evergreen forest in north Singapore. It usually grows at an elevation of 10 to 1,520 metres above sea level (GBIF.org 2021). There is no information on the phenology of the species.

Santiria apiculata is primarily threatened by land conversion and habitat degradation caused by commodity-driven deforestation, illegal logging, shifting agriculture, and urbanization. Based on analyzed data from the Global Forest Watch, a significant loss of humid primary forests from 2002 to 2020 is reported across the range of the species - 11,598ha in the Philippines (Laguna, Lanao del Sur, Quezon, Samar, and Sorsogon), 12,880ha in Brunei Darussalam (Belait, Temburong, and Tutong), 7.51Mha in Indonesia (Kalimantan (Barat, Tenga, Timur), Maluku (North, Obi Island, Bacan Island), Sulawesi Tengah, and Sumatra (Barat, Selatan, Riau, Jambi)), 2.61Mha in Malaysia (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Trengganu), 23,900ha in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, and 2ha in North Singapore.

The extract from the leaves and roots of Santiria apiculata is used for treating sickness after delivery. It is also a voucher specimen for anticancer and anti-AIDS screening (GBIF.org 2021).

The species is not included in the Philippine Red List (DENR-BMB 2017). However, the population of the species is protected in situ because of its presence in declared protected areas (PAs) in the Philippines (Mts. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, Samar Island Natural Park, and Lake Lanao Watershed Reservation), Indonesia (Lore Lindu National Park), Malaysia (Lambir Hills National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Bungo Range National Park, and Bukit Mersing) and Singapore (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve). In addition, it is known in at least two botanic gardens globally (BGCI 2021). Further inventory and research are needed to account for total remaining population size in the wild.