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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SUcrHrxsx7kr1GDruSCaJYNwmKQQKViN/W+bS9RjBQIIAq621CfdGDb7yllNmIMp
 uM5Z0w5uMGWC14CH28zzAg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-012912.txt : 20030722
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-012912.hdr.sgml : 20030722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030722164215
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-012912
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030722
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030722

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			METLIFE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001099219
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INSURANCE AGENTS BROKERS & SERVICES [6411]
		IRS NUMBER:				134075851
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10010-3690
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125782211

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10010-3690

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEERE WILLIAM C JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001033870

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15787
		FILM NUMBER:		03796786

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 LEROY AVENUE
		CITY:			DARIEN
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06820
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036557701

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 LEROY AVENUE
		CITY:			DARIEN
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06820
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-22</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001099219</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METLIFE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MET</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001033870</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEERE WILLIAM C JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>144</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>27.9</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5646</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><v
alue>By MetLife Policyholder Trust</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">5,636 shares held Directly.
10 shares held Indirectly by MetLife Policyholder Trust.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares held in trust under MetLife Policyholder Trust established to hold shares of Common Stock allocated to eligible policyholders of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Gwenn L. Carr, authorized signer</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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