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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 L8FGIP6qcf2MclM1GTwA3Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001126328-03-000303.txt : 20030521
<SEC-HEADER>0001126328-03-000303.hdr.sgml : 20030521
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030521154408
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001126328-03-000303
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030521

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001126328
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ACCIDENT & HEALTH INSURANCE [6321]
		IRS NUMBER:				421520346
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		711 HIGH STREET
		CITY:			DES MOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50392
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5152475111

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSON CHARLES S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001143777

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16725
		FILM NUMBER:		03714579

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		711 HIGH STREET
		CITY:			DES MOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50392-0300
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5152359417

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		711 HIGH STREET
		CITY:			DES MOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50392-0300
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-19</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001126328</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PFG</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001143777</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSON CHARLES S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2526</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3948</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativ
eSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>30.16</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1935</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-19</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1935</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1
935</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>706</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>30.16</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F4"/
></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>706</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1061</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock units.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The option vests in four equal quarterly installments over a one-year period, with the first installment vesting on August 19, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The reported phantom stock units were acquired pursuant to the Principal Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors and will be settled on the reportin
g person's retirement.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Joyce N. Hoffman</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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