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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EYTdRDN+WaYrH9TNFhsF3TZQl4obBJEU93fsQ5rjPEL5vB5FVCUqOYw6bbUPFrlY
 PNNMSRl5mXIZsSPA9sDt2Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000740260-06-000167.txt : 20060828
<SEC-HEADER>0000740260-06-000167.hdr.sgml : 20060828
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060828172803
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000740260-06-000167
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060824
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060828
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060828

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROSENBERG SHELI  Z
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198222

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10989
		FILM NUMBER:		061059853

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EQUITY GROUP INVESTMENTS
		STREET 2:		TWO N RIVERSIDE STE 600
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

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
</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>2006-08-24</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198222</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROSENBERG SHELI  Z</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</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>2006-08-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19.899</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43208.076</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">Common Stock in the form of Units granted under the Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Compensation Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) in lieu of Director fees pursuant to the Director's deferral election.  Such Units are payable solely in Common Stock and subject to the terms and conditions of the Director's deferral election and the Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 204.415 shares acquired on August 2, 2006 under the Ventas Employee and Director Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">As of August 24, 2006, Reporting Person also owns options to purchase 35,000 shares of Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sheli Z. Rosenberg, By: T. Richard Riney, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-08-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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