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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,
 Eh2E8Nf2wmv9amIfg7hsYX+HMQUpDYZwBJas1Gyh3KtnsURgMNd3I5NnV0ISkop+
 JlZBA3t5YnDNvXEy6zVs0A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000005513-03-000096.txt : 20031125
<SEC-HEADER>0000005513-03-000096.hdr.sgml : 20031125
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031125112626
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000005513-03-000096
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031121
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031125

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNUMPROVIDENT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000005513
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ACCIDENT & HEALTH INSURANCE [6321]
		IRS NUMBER:				621598430
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 FOUNTAIN SQUARE
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2077702211

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 FOUNTAIN SQUARE
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37402

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PROVIDENT COMPANIES INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961204

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PROVIDENT LIFE & ACCIDENT INSURANCE CO OF AMERICA
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950407

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WATJEN THOMAS R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182971

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11294
		FILM NUMBER:		031022308

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 FOUNTAIN SQUARE
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4237556866

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 FOUNTAIN SQUARE
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37402
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wat212.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-11-21</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000005513</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNUMPROVIDENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UNM</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182971</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WATJEN THOMAS R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 FOUNTAIN SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHATTANOOGA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37402</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>425271.00</value>
					<footnoteId id="F1"/>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>8850.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By 401(k)</value>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>MICP Purchased Shares Dividends</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>0.00</value>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-11-21</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>40</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>14.25</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<footnoteId id="F4"/>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>40.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>40.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>MICP Premium Shares Dividends</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>0.00</value>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-11-21</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>17</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>14.25</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<footnoteId id="F4"/>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>17.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>17.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">This amount includes: Employee Stock Purchase Plan - 302 shares; restricted stock - 161,350 shares; and shares owned (direct) outside of any plan -  263,619 shares.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Conversion is one for one.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">Exercisable with the original grant to which the dividend relates.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F4">Not applicable.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Susan N. Roth on behalf of</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-11-25</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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