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INVESTMENTS - Information Regarding Pretax Realized Gains and Losses From Investments (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Other-than-temporary impairment losses realized $ (31)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet [1] $ (199)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet [1] $ (977)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet [1]
Derivative gains (losses) 31us-gaap_GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNetPretax 326us-gaap_GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNetPretax 151us-gaap_GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNetPretax
Other 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfAssets 10us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfAssets 3us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfAssets
Total realized investment gains (losses) 215us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments 399us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments (349)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
Fixed maturities      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Total realized investment gains (losses) 184us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
135us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
(349)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Perpetual securities      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Other-than-temporary impairment losses realized 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
(70)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
(243)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Total realized investment gains (losses) 0us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
(71)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
(154)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Equity securities      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Other-than-temporary impairment losses realized 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
(1)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Total realized investment gains (losses) 0us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
(1)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Derivatives and other      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Total realized investment gains (losses) 31us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= afl_DerivativesAndOtherMember
336us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= afl_DerivativesAndOtherMember
154us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= afl_DerivativesAndOtherMember
Available-for-sale Securities | Fixed maturities      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Gross gains from sales 192us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
316us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
427us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Gross losses from sales (12)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
(87)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
(48)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Net gains (losses) from redemptions 34afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
34afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
2afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Other-than-temporary impairment losses realized (31)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
(128)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
(734)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale Securities | Perpetual securities      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Gross gains from sales 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
127us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Gross losses from sales 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
(1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
(98)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Net gains (losses) from redemptions 0afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
0afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
60afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Other-than-temporary impairment losses realized 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
(70)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
(243)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Held-to-maturity Securities | Fixed maturities      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Net gains (losses) from redemptions $ 1afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
$ 0afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
$ 4afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
[1] Includes $45 and $597 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for credit-related impairments; $26 and $27 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for impairments due to severity and duration of decline in fair value; and $31, $128 and $353 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, from change in intent to sell securities