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Consolidated Variable Interest Entities - Narrative (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Entity
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]                        
Net fair value gains and losses on FG VIEs are expected to reverse to zero at maturity of the VIE debt $ 0us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount               $ 0us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount      
Credit Risk Derivatives at Fair Value before Effect of Credit Spread Net 1 [Abstract]                        
Fair value gains (losses) on FG VIEs 23,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts 50,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts 25,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts 157,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts 93,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts 40,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts 143,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts 70,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts 255,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts 346,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts 191,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts  
Number of entities to be deconsolidated                 7ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntitiestobeDeconsolidated      
Number of FG VIE's matured                 (2)ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberMatured      
Effect on shareholders’ equity (decrease) increase 5,758,000,000us-gaap_StockholdersEquity       5,115,000,000us-gaap_StockholdersEquity       5,758,000,000us-gaap_StockholdersEquity 5,115,000,000us-gaap_StockholdersEquity 4,994,000,000us-gaap_StockholdersEquity 4,652,000,000us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Net earned premiums 158,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 144,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 136,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 132,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 182,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 159,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 163,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 248,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 570,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 752,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 853,000,000us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet  
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]                        
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]                        
Net gain on deconsolidation       120,000,000us-gaap_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmount
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
        120,000,000us-gaap_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmount
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
     
Net loss on consolidation of VIEs                 26,000,000us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityInitialConsolidationGainOrLoss
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
     
Net gain (loss) on consolidation and deconsolidation during period                   7,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityConsolidationandDeconsolidationNetGainLoss
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
6,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityConsolidationandDeconsolidationNetGainLoss
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
 
Credit Risk Derivatives at Fair Value before Effect of Credit Spread Net 1 [Abstract]                        
Fair value gains (losses) on FG VIEs                 255,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
346,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
191,000,000ago_VariableInterestEntityChangeinFairValueofFinancialGuaranteeContracts
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
 
Gain from Company's exercise of options       37,000,000ago_FairValueOptionChangesinFairValueGainLossonAccelerationofLien
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
               
Number of FG VIE's matured                 (2)ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberMatured
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
(1)ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberMatured
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
(2)ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberMatured
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
 
Effect on shareholders’ equity (decrease) increase (44,000,000)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      (172,000,000)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      (44,000,000)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
(172,000,000)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
   
Net earned premiums                 (32,000,000)us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
(60,000,000)us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
(153,000,000)us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
 
Number of VIE that did not require consolidation 32ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      40ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      32ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
40ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
33ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
33ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure [Member]                        
Credit Risk Derivatives at Fair Value before Effect of Credit Spread Net 1 [Abstract]                        
Number of VIE that did not require consolidation 930ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      1,000ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      930ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
1,000ago_VariableInterestEntityNumberofEntities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
   
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities and Other Insurance Products [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]                        
Credit Risk Derivatives at Fair Value before Effect of Credit Spread Net 1 [Abstract]                        
Total unpaid principal balance for the VIEs' assets that were over 90 days or more past due 183,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssets90DaysOrMorePastDue
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      750,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssets90DaysOrMorePastDue
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      183,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssets90DaysOrMorePastDue
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
750,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssets90DaysOrMorePastDue
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
   
Difference between the aggregate unpaid principal and aggregate fair value of the VIEs' Assets 941,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssets90DaysOrMorePastDueAggregateDifference
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      1,940,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssets90DaysOrMorePastDueAggregateDifference
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      941,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssets90DaysOrMorePastDueAggregateDifference
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
1,940,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssets90DaysOrMorePastDueAggregateDifference
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
   
Change in the instrument specific credit risk of the VIEs' assets                 116,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionCreditRiskGainsLossesOnAssets
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
340,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionCreditRiskGainsLossesOnAssets
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
413,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOptionCreditRiskGainsLossesOnAssets
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
 
Unpaid principal for FG VIEs’ liabilities with recourse 1,912,000,000ago_FairValueOptionLiabilitieswithRecourseUnpaidPrincipalBalance
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      2,316,000,000ago_FairValueOptionLiabilitieswithRecourseUnpaidPrincipalBalance
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      1,912,000,000ago_FairValueOptionLiabilitieswithRecourseUnpaidPrincipalBalance
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
2,316,000,000ago_FairValueOptionLiabilitieswithRecourseUnpaidPrincipalBalance
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
   
Unpaid principal for FG VIEs' liabilities with and without recourse 916,000,000ago_FairValueOptionLoansHeldasLiabilities90DaysorMorePastDueAggregateDifference
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      1,611,000,000ago_FairValueOptionLoansHeldasLiabilities90DaysorMorePastDueAggregateDifference
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
      916,000,000ago_FairValueOptionLoansHeldasLiabilities90DaysorMorePastDueAggregateDifference
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
1,611,000,000ago_FairValueOptionLoansHeldasLiabilities90DaysorMorePastDueAggregateDifference
/ us-gaap_EligibleItemOrGroupForFairValueOptionAxis
= ago_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesandOtherInsuranceProductsMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
   
Various counterparties [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]                        
Credit Risk Derivatives at Fair Value before Effect of Credit Spread Net 1 [Abstract]                        
Fair value gains (losses) on FG VIEs                 265,000,000ago_GainLossonSettlementofRepresentationsandWarranties
/ us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis
= ago_VariousCounterpartiesMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
     
Deutsche Bank [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]                        
Credit Risk Derivatives at Fair Value before Effect of Credit Spread Net 1 [Abstract]                        
Fair value gains (losses) on FG VIEs                     $ 166,000,000ago_GainLossonSettlementofRepresentationsandWarranties
/ us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis
= ago_DeutscheBankMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember