-----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,
 S1tYByNjmQFVMtqe5rB3ATaqcMnmN8YhW7VRwBP+2sj+pEq5pOV+rLaDutNKnKK+
 IoBmf/e8b3d3Z0sPqUtcUQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-009268.txt : 20040430
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-009268.hdr.sgml : 20040430
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040430094218
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-009268
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040428
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040430

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AES CORPORATION
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874761
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COGENERATION SERVICES & SMALL POWER PRODUCERS [4991]
		IRS NUMBER:				541163725
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 N 19TH ST
		STREET 2:		STE 2000
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22209
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7035221315

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KOSKINEN JOHN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001284783

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12291
		FILM NUMBER:		04767557

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AES INC
		STREET 2:		1001 N. 19TH ST
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22209
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7033581315

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AES INC
		STREET 2:		1001 N. 19TH ST
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22209
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-28</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874761</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AES CORPORATION</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AES</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001284783</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOSKINEN JOHN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE AES CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1001 NORTH 19TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22209</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20967</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of The AES Corporation (the &quot;Company&quot;), Non Employee Directors may elect to defer receipt of compensation otherwise payable to such Director in the form of stock units, the basis of which is determined to be the closing stock price on the day that the Non Employee Director is elected to the Board of Directors for the Plan Year for which a stock unit election is made.  In this case, the Board Year commenced on April 28, 2004 and will continue through April 27, 2005.  A Non Employee Director is not eligible to make a withdrawl from his deferred account until such Director ceases to be a Board Member.  This distribution will be made as soon as practicable after the Director leaves the Company, and will be made in accordance with the Director's Distribution Election Notification.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John A. Koskinen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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