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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Mz9MprOa0O3y2Hw64Vj2hot6dWDLtPNHCokBa3cizzoXwgFMY/bgdSKOXBbH/ZNT
 tsAl2SvBXi1cW9n3n0nrhA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000740260-04-000070.txt : 20040224
<SEC-HEADER>0000740260-04-000070.hdr.sgml : 20040224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040224103728
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000740260-04-000070
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040224

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VENTAS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000740260
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				611055020
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10350 ORMSBY PARK PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40223
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5023579000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10350 ORMSBY PARK PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GELLERT JAY M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213928

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-107942
		FILM NUMBER:		04623639

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21650 OXNARD STREET, 22ND FLOOR
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8186766000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21650 OXNARD STREET, 22ND FLOOR
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
</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>2004-02-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000740260</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VENTAS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213928</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GELLERT JAY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>21650 OXNARD ST., 22ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODLAND HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91367</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>2004-02-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>94</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9166.921</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As of February 20, 2004, Reporting Person also owns options to purchase 25,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jay M. Gellert, By: T. Richard Riney, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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