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Document And Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Nov. 01, 2011 Common Class A [Member]	Nov. 01, 2011 Common Class B [Member]
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		$ 292,164,100
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			48,946,546	1,001,714
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011