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INVESTMENTS - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
investment
Dec. 31, 2013
investment
Dec. 31, 2012
investment
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]      
Reclassified investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio, number of investments 3afl_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesTransferredToAvailableForSaleSecuritiesNumberOfInvestments 2afl_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesTransferredToAvailableForSaleSecuritiesNumberOfInvestments 7afl_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesTransferredToAvailableForSaleSecuritiesNumberOfInvestments
Reclassified investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio, amortized cost $ 424us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesTransferredSecurityAtCarryingValue $ 492us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesTransferredSecurityAtCarryingValue $ 1,200us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesTransferredSecurityAtCarryingValue
Reclassified investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio, aggregate unrealized gain (loss) (54)us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesTransferredToAvailableForSaleSecuritiesUnrealizedGainLoss (153)us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesTransferredToAvailableForSaleSecuritiesUnrealizedGainLoss (290)us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesTransferredToAvailableForSaleSecuritiesUnrealizedGainLoss
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 7,426us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1 1,523us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1  
Percentage that the lending policy requires that the fair value of the securities and/or unrestricted cash received as collateral be of the fair value of the loaned securities 102.00%afl_CollateralRequirementsMinimumPercentageCollateralToFairValueOfSecuritiesLoanedUnderSecurityLendingTransactions    
Fair value of debt securities on deposit with regulatory authorities in the United States and Japan 13us-gaap_AssetsHeldByInsuranceRegulators    
Variable Interest Entity, Not Consolidated      
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]      
Securities available for sale, fixed maturities, amortized cost 6,104us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
6,724us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
 
Securities available for sale, fixed maturities, fair value 6,937us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
6,916us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
 
Number of issuers of VIEs not-consolidated 191afl_NumberOfIssuers
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
   
Perpetual securities      
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]      
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 229us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
(40)us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
 
Parent Company      
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]      
Securities available for sale, fixed maturities, amortized cost 419us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
322us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
 
Securities available for sale, fixed maturities, fair value $ 437us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
$ 332us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember