-----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,
 Dy9xeLHGhNhNfxKMf/BUUGpwz5bzBwPCoekvGhkhEeUPXpV9hmSSb6l/ETCspf4b
 +EY5MLbj1ALIm9rlt5I8/A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001041665-10-000012.txt : 20100506
<SEC-HEADER>0001041665-10-000012.hdr.sgml : 20100506
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100506160300
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001041665-10-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100505
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100506
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100506

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DRISCOLL J GREGORY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001353336

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31706
		FILM NUMBER:		10808114

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		610-388-0945

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		764 BEVERSREDE TRAIL
		CITY:			WEST CHESTER
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19382

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:		380 SENTRY PARKWAY
		CITY:			BLUE BELL
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19422
		BUSINESS PHONE:		610-397-5298

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		380 SENTRY PARKWAY
		CITY:			BLUE BELL
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19422

	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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-05</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001353336</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DRISCOLL J GREGORY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PMA CAPITAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>380 SENTRY PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLUE BELL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19422</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</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24972</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert B. Munoz - Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----