Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Nov. 02, 2018
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CITIZENS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000024090
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
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