SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Reconciliation of Number of Shares of Common Stock (Detail)				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Common Stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Common Stock	Sep. 30, 2013 Treasury Stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Treasury Stock
Common Stock Issued [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	666,493,000	665,239,000		665,239,000	663,639,000
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted shares				1,254,000	1,157,000
Balance, end of period	666,493,000	665,239,000		666,493,000	664,796,000
Treasury Stock [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period						197,453,000	197,329,000
Open market						5,571,000	0
Other						163,000	270,000
Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan						(1,080,000)	(1,306,000)
Exercise of stock options						(1,161,000)	(94,000)
Other						(163,000)	(127,000)
Balance, end of period						200,783,000	196,072,000
Shares outstanding, end of period	465,710,000		468,724,000