-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 JD+cx00OdLDwdRUK07Sfw1jsHZ8sFS+abRu9jVPJTLe/xflncXi3yPDWq4JlTTtZ
 0S0+HjGmD86aWXD02Z81lg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001041061-08-000265.txt : 20081212
<SEC-HEADER>0001041061-08-000265.hdr.sgml : 20081212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081212122553
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001041061-08-000265
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081212
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081212

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOLLAND ROBERT JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184891

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13163
		FILM NUMBER:		081245610

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LEXMARK NTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		740 W NEW CIRCLE RD
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40550
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8592322700

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			YUM BRANDS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001041061
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				133951308
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1441 GARDINER LANE
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40213
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5028748300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 COLONEL SANDERS LANE
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40213

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRICON GLOBAL RESTAURANTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970627

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREAT AMERICAN RESTAURANT CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970618
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041061</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>YUM BRANDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>YUM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184891</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLLAND ROBERT JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WORKPLACE INTEGRATORS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>30800 TELEGRAPH, SUITE 4700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BINGHAM FARMS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48025</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>2008-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2008-12-11</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4788.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.19</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>51725.36</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert Holland, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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