-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QFxnkhp0ZURPhLsM4LBthxmQB/zl40Tx8BGla180W1SJvru87x51FUIK/UqjcgJB
 8Sui0AOsqXrEyrkESS0OKA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000005513-04-000160.txt : 20041123
<SEC-HEADER>0000005513-04-000160.hdr.sgml : 20041123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041123142529
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000005513-04-000160
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041119
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041123
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUGH LAWRENCE R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183074

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11294
		FILM NUMBER:		041163378

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		369 SEA MEADOWS LANE
		CITY:			YARMOUTH
		STATE:			ME
		ZIP:			04096
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2078466245

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>pug361.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000005513</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNUMPROVIDENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UNM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183074</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PUGH LAWRENCE R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6919 GREENTREE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPLES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40612.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Unum Corp Deferred Comp Plan Dividend 2004/4Q</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>44</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.29</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>44.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This amount includes:   Dividend Reinvestment Plan - 612 shares; restricted stock - 20,000 shares; and shares owned (direct) outside of any plan  -  20,000 shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Conversion is one for one.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Exercisable at termination.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Christopher A. Parrott on behalf of</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----