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INVESTMENTS - Details of Holdings of Perpetual Securities (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Investment Holdings [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost $ 61,937us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost $ 60,844us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Fair Value 69,907us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities 68,270us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 7,970us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1 7,426us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
Perpetual securities    
Investment Holdings [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 2,309us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
2,440us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Fair Value 2,560us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
2,669us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 251us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
229us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Upper Tier II: | Perpetual securities    
Investment Holdings [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 1,434us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
1,554us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Fair Value 1,555us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
1,645us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 121us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
91us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Upper Tier II: | A | Perpetual securities    
Investment Holdings [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 61us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_AcreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
61us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_AcreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Fair Value 88us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_AcreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
87us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_AcreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 27us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_AcreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
26us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_AcreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Upper Tier II: | BBB | Perpetual securities    
Investment Holdings [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 1,209us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
1,330us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Fair Value 1,235us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
1,333us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 26us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
3us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Upper Tier II: | BB or lower | Perpetual securities    
Investment Holdings [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 164us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
163us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Fair Value 232us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
225us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 68us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
62us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_UpperTierIIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Tier I: | Perpetual securities    
Investment Holdings [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 692us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
703us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Fair Value 786us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
793us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 94us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
90us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Tier I: | BBB | Perpetual securities    
Investment Holdings [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 521us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
519us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Fair Value 561us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
556us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 40us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
37us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BbbCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Tier I: | BB or lower | Perpetual securities    
Investment Holdings [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 171us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
184us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Fair Value 225us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
237us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain (Loss) 54us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
53us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_TierIMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Other subordinated - non-banks | BB or lower | Perpetual securities    
Investment Holdings [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 183us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_OtherSubordinatedSecuritiesNonBanksMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
183us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_OtherSubordinatedSecuritiesNonBanksMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Fair Value 219us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_OtherSubordinatedSecuritiesNonBanksMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
231us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_OtherSubordinatedSecuritiesNonBanksMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain (Loss) $ 36us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_OtherSubordinatedSecuritiesNonBanksMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember
$ 48us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1
/ afl_CreditRatingAxis
= afl_BBOrLowerCreditRatingMember
/ invest_InvestmentSectorAxis
= afl_OtherSubordinatedSecuritiesNonBanksMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember