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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VrfN7I5inzU2Q2mnTavFR06DxiW8s9vTF87IzVz+vRkJKGBfMHME5Mtfo1AY9ZAL
 aBkSMLrBnXBpMMYNzzrklg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000059558-04-000151.txt : 20041004
<SEC-HEADER>0000059558-04-000151.hdr.sgml : 20041004
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041004163043
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000059558-04-000151
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041004
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041004

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSON ERIC G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228946

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06028
		FILM NUMBER:		041062889

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BALDWIN RICHARDSON FOODS CO
		STREET 2:		20201 S LAGRANGE RD
		CITY:			FRANKFORT
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60423

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000059558
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				351140070
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1500 MARKET STREET STE 3900
		STREET 2:		CENTRE SQUARE WEST TOWER
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2154481400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1500 MARKET STREET STE 3900
		STREET 2:		CENTRE SQUARE TOWER
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102
</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>2004-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000059558</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LNC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228946</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSON ERIC G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTRE SQUARE WEST TOWER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1500 MARKET ST., STE. 3900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>651.6</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7036.72</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects quarterly payment of board retainer and fees in shares of phantom  stock accrued under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the &quot;Plan&quot;), which are payable solely in shares of the Company's common stock at resignation or retirement and which were previously reported in Table II of prior reports as &quot;Phantom Stock Voluntary Deferral of Retainer Fees.&quot;</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 6243.55 shares previously reported in Table I of prior reports as &quot;Restricted Stock,&quot; which vest upon retirement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 141.57 shares acquired upon dividend reinvestment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>C. Suzanne Womack, POA for Eric G. Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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