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INVESTMENTS - Information Regarding Pretax Realized Gains and Losses From Investments (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]    
Other-than-temporary impairment losses realized $ (6)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet [1] $ (3)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet [1]
Derivative gains (losses) (49)us-gaap_GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNetPretax (83)us-gaap_GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNetPretax
Other 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfAssets (1)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfAssets
Total realized investment gains (losses) 13us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments (46)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
Fixed maturities:    
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]    
Total realized investment gains (losses) 62us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
38us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Derivatives and other    
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]    
Total realized investment gains (losses) (49)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= afl_DerivativesAndOtherMember
(84)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= afl_DerivativesAndOtherMember
Available-for-sale Securities | Fixed maturities:    
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]    
Gross gains from sales 49us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
35us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Gross losses from sales 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
(1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Net gains (losses) from redemptions 19afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
7afl_GainsLossesFromRedemptionsOfSecuritiesNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Other-than-temporary impairment losses realized $ (6)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
$ (3)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
/ us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestmentsByCategoryAxis
= us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
[1] Includes $6 and $3 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, from change in intent to sell securities