SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Reconciliation of Number of Shares of Common Stock (Detail)				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Common Stock	Sep. 30, 2011 Common Stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Treasury Stock	Sep. 30, 2011 Treasury Stock
Common Stock Issued [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	664,796,000	663,639,000		663,639,000	662,660,000
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted shares				1,157,000	818,000
Balance, end of period	664,796,000	663,639,000		664,796,000	663,478,000
Treasury Stock [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period						197,329,000	192,999,000
Open market						0	5,100,000
Other						270,000	157,000
Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan						(1,306,000)	(1,253,000)
Exercise of stock options						(94,000)	(85,000)
Other						(127,000)	(79,000)
Balance, end of period						196,072,000	196,839,000
Shares outstanding, end of period	468,724,000		466,639,000