-----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,
 VgATm+F2SPYz7xERXfbSH06z6w5wbCDz+qDaqjIMeFcIpApH8X3TfCudmYvdtLHL
 DNGYna+CXMrcQOPfNjxmEg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001041665-04-000097.txt : 20041229
<SEC-HEADER>0001041665-04-000097.hdr.sgml : 20041229
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041229140909
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001041665-04-000097
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041227
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041229
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041229

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MALONE JAMES F III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001055629

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31706
		FILM NUMBER:		041230594

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1655 CROOKED OAK DRIVE
		CITY:			LANCASTER
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17601-4299

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NORTHRIDGE OFFICE PLAZA
		STREET 2:		17 VIP DRIVE, SUITE 310
		CITY:			WEXFORD
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15090

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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-27</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041665</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PMA CAPITAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PMACA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001055629</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MALONE JAMES F III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NORTHRIDGE OFFICE PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>117 VIP DRIVE, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WEXFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15090</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $5 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>542300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, $5 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>542300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>542300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting person transferred shares to an irrevocable Florida trust of which his spouse is trustee and he is sole beneficiary.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa A. Hanssen - Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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