SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Reconciliation of Number of Shares of Common Stock (Detail)				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Common Stock	Mar. 31, 2013 Common Stock	Mar. 31, 2014 Treasury Stock	Mar. 31, 2013 Treasury Stock
Common Stock Issued [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	667,620,000	667,046,000		667,046,000	665,239,000
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted shares				574,000	539,000
Balance, end of period	667,620,000	667,046,000		667,620,000	665,778,000
Treasury Stock [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period						207,633,000	197,453,000
Open market						6,535,000	2,979,000
Other						110,000	124,000
Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan						(284,000)	(364,000)
Exercise of stock options						(281,000)	(294,000)
Other						(121,000)	(145,000)
Balance, end of period						213,592,000	199,753,000
Shares outstanding, end of period	454,028,000		466,025,000