SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Reconciliation of Number of Shares of Common Stock (Detail)				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Common Stock	Jun. 30, 2013 Common Stock	Jun. 30, 2014 Treasury Stock	Jun. 30, 2013 Treasury Stock
Common Stock Issued [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	667,796,000	667,046,000		667,046,000	665,239,000
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted shares				750,000	770,000
Balance, end of period	667,796,000	667,046,000		667,796,000	666,009,000
Treasury Stock [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period						207,633,000	197,453,000
Open market						8,142,000	5,263,000
Other						122,000	144,000
Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan						(626,000)	(770,000)
Exercise of stock options						(303,000)	(755,000)
Other						(122,000)	(146,000)
Balance, end of period						214,846,000	201,189,000
Shares outstanding, end of period	452,950,000		464,820,000