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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,
 MTMc46QdA9mMRKEB4/cVtsV4CaHWaE3bZwJzknxhhOgiDDMg1sd1lfqKEvR3xLXr
 tCwURfM9EsGce53r8F0mAw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000005513-06-000133.txt : 20060703
<SEC-HEADER>0000005513-06-000133.hdr.sgml : 20060703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060703155115
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000005513-06-000133
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060703
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060703
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060703

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:			RYAN WILLIAM J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192078

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11294
		FILM NUMBER:		06940823

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BANKNORTH GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 9540
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			ME
		ZIP:			04112
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rya554.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192078</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN WILLIAM J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BANKNORTH GROUP INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TWO PORTLAND SQUARE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>ME</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>04101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>55</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12671.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">All are deferred share rights.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 11,271 deferred share rights.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Jo C. Dearing on behalf of</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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