-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LfE1XdKrz323fjiuxj/NfGQZCefWmmSmYXU8WL13kdjSq1z59WQ+2djqociqBZN8
 XE9C0uWQYljGQbq2ZmxGDw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001041665-03-000016.txt : 20031002
<SEC-HEADER>0001041665-03-000016.hdr.sgml : 20031002
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031002114415
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001041665-03-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031002

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOSTER JOSEPH H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001226504

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31706
		FILM NUMBER:		03922727

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WHITE & WILLIAMS ONE LIBERTY PL
		STREET 2:		1650 MARKET STREET STE 1800
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PMA CAPITAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001041665
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				232217932
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1735 MARKET STREET SUITE 2800
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103-7590
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2156655046

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1735 MARKET STREET SUITE 2800
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103-7590

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PENNSYLVANIA MANUFACTURERS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970702
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041665</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PMA CAPITAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PMACA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001226504</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOSTER JOSEPH H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WHITE &amp; WILLIAMS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1650 MARKET STREET, SUITE 1800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Unit</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>47.258</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>12.925</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitl
e><underlyingSecurityShares><value>47.258</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5864.459</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This security converts to Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis but is settled only in cash.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The phantom stock units were accrued under the Company's non-employee director deferred compensation plan and are to be settled in cash upon the reporting person's resignation or retirement from the board.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Charles A. Brawley, III - Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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