<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-08-000343
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20071231
<FILING-DATE>20080103
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080103
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AES CORP
<CIK>0000874761
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4991
<IRS-NUMBER>541163725
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4300 WILSON BOULEVARD
<CITY>ARLINGTON
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>22203
<PHONE>7035221315
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4300 WILSON BOULEVARD
<CITY>ARLINGTON
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>22203
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>AES CORPORATION
<DATE-CHANGED>19930328
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Gluski Andres
<CIK>0001348876
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-12291
<FILM-NUMBER>08508124
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>703-522-1315
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4300 WILSON BOULEVARD
<CITY>ARLINGTON
<STATE>VA
<ZIP>22203
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001348876</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gluski Andres</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4300 WILSON BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP &amp; COO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2568</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>112</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>112</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4279</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These are shares awarded pursuant to the Restoration Retirement Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).  Mr. Gluski has elected to defer receipt of compensation otherwise payable to him in the form of stock units, the basis of which is determined to be the Company's closing stock price on the last day of each month.  The Plan allows for distribution upon a date(s) specified by the participant in the event of the participant's unforeseeable emergency, death or termination of employment.  This amount represents Mr. Gluski's December 2007 deferral.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Based upon a plan statement dated 12/31/2007, Mr. Gluski does not report any change in ownership for shares he holds in The AES Retirement Savings Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Andres Gluski</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
