Segment Reporting - Income From Real Estate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Revenues
Revenues	$ 452,578	$ 344,397	$ 880,368	$ 692,835
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	143,548	115,080	299,957	230,473
Operating property expenses	26,919	3,191	48,168	5,978
General and administrative	24,788	20,841	51,236	43,925
Reimbursable tenant costs	20,523	16,704	42,499	33,664
Stock-based compensation expense	8,995	9,758	16,761	17,591
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	5,371	11,851	18,143	25,630
Merger and other expenses	1,419	1,984	1,443	(338)
Impairment charges — real estate	0	6,206	0	26,385
Total operating expenses	231,687	186,758	478,432	385,378
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	(75,488)	(46,417)	(142,684)	(92,470)
Non-operating income	4,509	5,974	9,135	14,520
Earnings from equity method investments in real estate	4,355	7,401	9,591	12,173
Gain on sale of real estate, net	1,808	31,119	179,557	42,367
Other gains and (losses)	(1,366)	(21,746)	6,734	13,999
Total other income and expenses	(66,182)	(23,669)	62,333	(9,411)
Income before income taxes	154,709	133,970	464,269	298,046
Provision for income taxes	(10,129)	(6,252)	(25,248)	(13,335)
Net Income	144,580	127,718	439,021	284,711
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	40	(40)	(21)	(38)
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	144,620	127,678	439,000	284,673
Real Estate
Revenues
Lease revenues	369,124	314,354	721,460	622,079
Income from finance leases and loans receivable	27,311	17,778	48,066	36,157
Operating property revenues	50,676	5,064	91,562	8,929
Other lease-related income	5,040	2,591	18,413	16,713
Revenues	452,151	339,787	879,501	683,878
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	143,548	115,080	299,957	230,473
Operating property expenses	26,919	3,191	48,168	5,978
General and administrative	24,788	20,841	51,236	43,925
Reimbursable tenant costs	20,523	16,704	42,499	33,664
Stock-based compensation expense	8,995	9,758	16,761	17,591
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	5,371	11,851	18,143	25,630
Merger and other expenses	1,419	1,984	1,443	(341)
Impairment charges — real estate	0	6,206	0	26,385
Total operating expenses	231,563	185,615	478,207	383,305
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	(75,488)	(46,417)	(142,684)	(92,470)
Non-operating income	4,509	5,975	9,122	14,517
Earnings from equity method investments in real estate	4,355	4,529	9,591	3,742
Gain on sale of real estate, net	1,808	31,119	179,557	42,367
Other gains and (losses)	(890)	(20,155)	6,696	14,263
Total other income and expenses	(65,706)	(24,949)	62,282	(17,581)
Income before income taxes	154,882	129,223	463,576	282,992
Provision for income taxes	(10,236)	(5,955)	(25,638)	(12,868)
Net Income	144,646	123,268	437,938	270,124
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	40	(40)	(21)	(38)
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 144,686	$ 123,228	$ 437,917	$ 270,086