-----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,
 VUsIYv+2TaC1fu8+UPVrd4ak8jixpFXV1qQi3KmE3C4j3muRqD6YsDjUie2vehsR
 9AaFCPOPzCVzNhA6rYbFGg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001212131-03-000104.txt : 20031215
<SEC-HEADER>0001212131-03-000104.hdr.sgml : 20031215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031215175637
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001212131-03-000104
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031215

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WATTS RONALD D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183819

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08052
		FILM NUMBER:		031055634

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 8080
		CITY:			MCKINNEY
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75010

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TORCHMARK CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000320335
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				630780404
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2001 3RD AVE S
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35233
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2053254200

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TORCHMARK CORP SAVINGS & INVESTMENT PLAN
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19820825

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIBERTY NATIONAL INSURANCE HOLDING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19820701
</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>2003-12-11</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000320335</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TORCHMARK CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMK</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183819</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WATTS RONALD D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LIBERTY NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2001 THIRD AVENUE SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35233</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>Exec. Officer of Principal Sub</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3242</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Thrift Plan Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownership
Nature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>44.89</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><p
ostTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares in unitized fund in employee benefit plan - estimated conversion of $ balance to shares using $44.89 per share.</footnote><footnote id="F2">First exercisable as to 50% of shares on and after 12-11-2005 and as to remaining 50% of shares on and after 12-11-2006.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ronald D. Watts, by Carol A. McCoy, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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