Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Apr. 19, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CITIZENS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000024090
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 348,812,199
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Common Stock Class A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		49,080,114
Common Stock Class B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,001,714