Schedule II - Primerica, Inc. (Parent Only) - Condensed Statements of Cash Flow (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 162,725	$ 173,806	$ 157,191
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	18,333	13,332	(3,424)
Change in incomes taxes	13,045	12,707	16,733
Realized investment (gains) losses, including other-than-temporary impairments	(6,246)	(11,382)	(6,440)
Accretion and amortization of investments	(4,554)	(2,766)	(2,818)
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net	(10,803)	(10,095)	(10,731)
Share-based Compensation	(13,788)	(18,944)	(17,886)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	(187,899)	(124,333)	(87,215)
Available-for-sale investments sold, matured or called:
Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities, Debt	(98,277)	(304,838)	(214,807)
Proceeds from Maturities, Prepayments and Calls of Available-for-sale Securities	266,738	263,351	375,124
Available-for-sale investments acquired:
Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities, Debt	(308,904)	(492,094)	(460,459)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	23,818	10,949	3,666
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(35,484)	(62,294)	(128,699)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	(25,058)	(14,737)	(7,312)
Common stock repurchased	(101,073)	(268,212)	(204,109)
Warrants repurchased	(68,399)	0	0
Excess Tax Benefit (Tax Deficiency) from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	(9,590)	(5,266)	(4,865)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes, net of discount	0	374,411	0
Repayment of long-term debt	0	(300,000)	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	0	(7,814)	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	184,940	211,086	206,556
Change in cash and cash equivalents	36,973	(23,862)	10,040
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	112,216	136,078	126,038
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	149,189	112,216	136,078
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest Paid	32,905	38,416	27,555
Non-cash activities:
Share-based compensation	39,195	33,236	29,444
Net contributions from (distributions to) Citi	0	1,961	1,426
Cash Flow Eliminated Upon Consolidation		38,535
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	162,725	173,806	157,191
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	47,356	47,070	100,192
Non-cash securities dividends received from subsidiaries	0	0	(21,742)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(227)	(1,139)	2,533
Change in incomes taxes	4,912	(2,451)	(3,283)
Realized investment (gains) losses, including other-than-temporary impairments	(11)	(545)	5
Accretion and amortization of investments	60	400	40
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net	(23)	(183)	0
Share-based Compensation	(718)	(215)	(196)
Change in due to/from affiliates	336	(438)	907
Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net	290	(109)	(161)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	(205,686)	(222,770)	(240,630)
Available-for-sale investments sold, matured or called:
Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities, Debt	(2,679)	(67,267)	0
Proceeds from Maturities, Prepayments and Calls of Available-for-sale Securities	20,269	24,503	5,210
Available-for-sale investments acquired:
Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities, Debt	(33,118)	(120,642)	(6,590)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	0	70	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	10,170	28,942	1,380
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	(25,058)	(14,737)	(7,312)
Common stock repurchased	(101,073)	(268,212)	(204,109)
Warrants repurchased	(68,399)	0	0
Excess Tax Benefit (Tax Deficiency) from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	(79)	(22)	(14)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes, net of discount	0	374,411	0
Repayment of long-term debt	0	(300,000)	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	0	(3,109)	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	194,451	211,625	211,407
Change in cash and cash equivalents	1,065	(17,797)	27,843
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	10,296	28,093	250
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	11,361	10,296	28,093
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest Paid	17,070	15,858	16,500
Non-cash activities:
Share-based compensation	39,195	33,236	29,444
Net contributions from (distributions to) Citi	$ 0	$ 1,961	$ 1,426