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SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Number of long-term incentive compensation plans 2afl_NumberOfIncentiveCompensationPlans      
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $ 16.24afl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue 14.25afl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue 16.84afl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue  
Closing common stock price $ 61.09afl_ClosingStockPrice      
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding $ 116us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue      
Options Outstanding - Weighted-Average Remaining Term (Yrs) 4 years 6 months      
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercisable 103us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1      
Weighted-average remaining term of stock options exercisable (in years) 3 years 7 months 6 days      
Stock Option Plan Effective Until February 2007 Member        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Stock option plan, term (in years) 10 years      
Second Stock Option Plan        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period 10 years      
Stock option plan, vesting period 3 years      
Shares available for future grants under the long-term incentive plan 11,200,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= afl_SecondStockOptionPlanMember
     
Restricted stock        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total compensation cost not yet recognized, restricted stock awards 45us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
     
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number 1,880,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
1,671,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
1,363,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
1,350,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition 1 year 2 months 12 days      
Performance Based Vesting Condition Member | Restricted stock        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Total compensation cost not yet recognized, restricted stock awards $ 20us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= afl_PerformanceBasedVestingConditionMember
     
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number 849,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= afl_PerformanceBasedVestingConditionMember