-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Ef30pQWdmhsTyweviiQPIQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000903954-09-000017.txt : 20090106
<SEC-HEADER>0000903954-09-000017.hdr.sgml : 20090106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090106131631
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000903954-09-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081230
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CATTANO JAMES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001211146

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-06094
		FILM NUMBER:		09509177

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(239) 262-2004

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PRIMARY RESOURCES
		STREET 2:		5100 TAMIAMI TRAIL N.
		CITY:			NAPLES
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LATIN AMERICA EQUITY FUND INC /MD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000862599
		IRS NUMBER:				133577304
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MGMT, LLC
		STREET 2:		ELEVEN MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-325-2000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MGMT, LLC
		STREET 2:		ELEVEN MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10010

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LATIN AMERICA INVESTMENT FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000862599</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LATIN AMERICA EQUITY FUND INC /MD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LAQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211146</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CATTANO JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PRIMARY RESOURCES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5100 TAMIAMI TRAIL N.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPLES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Audit Committee Chairman</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>142</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.04</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2816.513</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The total shares held following this transaction includes 63.967 shares acquired as part of the fund's dividend reinvestment plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Karen Regan, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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