-----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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000038777-04-000326.txt : 20040408
<SEC-HEADER>0000038777-04-000326.hdr.sgml : 20040408
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040408191602
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000038777-04-000326
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040408

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TEMPLETON DRAGON FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000919893
		IRS NUMBER:				650473580
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		700 CENTRAL AVE
		CITY:			ST PETERSBURG
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8138238712

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLANAGAN MARTIN L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001010267

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-08394
		FILM NUMBER:		04725908

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC
		STREET 2:		777 MARINERS ISLAND BLVD 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94404
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4153126505

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC
		STREET 2:		777 MARINERS ISLAND BLVD 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94404
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>1</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000919893</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEMPLETON DRAGON FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TDF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001010267</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FLANAGAN MARTIN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENTS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN MATEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94403-1906</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President and Director</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>1999-01-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>L</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>762.095</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Profit Sharing Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares represent a pro-rata number of shares equivalent to Mr. Flanagan's percentage of ownership of the Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc. held in the Franklin Templeton Profit Sharing and (401k) Plan as of 12/31/03.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Martin L. Flanagan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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