Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE GROUP, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001635984
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 699,652,528
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Common Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,436,020
Common Class B
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		200,000