Schedule II - Primerica, Inc. (Parent Only) - Condensed Financial Information Parentheticals (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Amortized Cost Basis	$ 1,667,500	[1]	$ 1,663,022	[2]
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000,000		500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	52,169,000		54,834,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	52,169,000		54,834,000		56,374,000	64,883,000
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Amortized Cost Basis	$ 160,839		$ 62,216
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000,000		500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	52,169,000		54,834,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	52,169,000		54,834,000

[1] Includes approximately $0.7 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income.

[2] Includes approximately $2.1 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses related to corporates and mortgage- and asset-backed securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income.