CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total W.P. Carey Stockholders	$0.001 Par Value Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Deferred Compensation Obligation	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling interests
Beginning equity balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 6,878,369	$ 6,876,713	$ 175	$ 8,925,365	$ (1,850,935)	$ 42,014	$ (239,906)	$ 1,656
Beginning equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2020			175,401,757
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued under ATM Program, net	140,287	140,287	$ 3	140,284
Shares issued under ATM Program, net, shares			2,020,115
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards	(3,744)	(3,744)		(3,744)
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, shares			99,090
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	5,381	5,381		5,381
Deferral of vested shares, net	0			(7,049)		7,049
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(15)							(15)
Dividends declared	(187,481)	(187,481)		906	(189,139)	752
Net Income	51,641	51,634			51,634			7
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Reclassification of unrealized gain on investments to net income	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(13,902)	(13,902)					(13,902)
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments	19,919	19,919					19,919
Ending equity balance at Mar. 31, 2021	6,890,455	6,888,807	$ 178	9,061,143	(1,988,440)	49,815	(233,889)	1,648
Ending equity balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2021			177,520,962
Beginning equity balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 7,583,451	7,581,785	$ 190	9,977,686	(2,224,231)	49,810	(221,670)	1,666
Beginning equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2021	190,013,751		190,013,751
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Shares issued under ATM Program, net	$ 178,965	178,965	$ 2	178,963
Shares issued under ATM Program, net, shares			2,249,227
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards	(6,600)	(6,600)		(6,600)
Shares issued upon delivery of vested restricted share awards, shares			131,982
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	7,833	7,833		7,833
Deferral of vested shares, net	0			(6,836)		6,836
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(14)							(14)
Dividends declared	(205,497)	(205,497)		1,380	(207,383)	506
Net Income	156,993	156,995			156,995			(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Reclassification of unrealized gain on investments to net income	(18,688)	(18,688)					(18,688)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(9,152)	(9,152)					(9,152)
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments	7,370	7,370					7,370
Ending equity balance at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 7,694,661	$ 7,693,011	$ 192	$ 10,152,426	$ (2,274,619)	$ 57,152	$ (242,140)	$ 1,650
Ending equity balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2022	192,394,960		192,394,960