BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - Operations by Segment - Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 147,356	$ 137,217
Aflac Japan
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	125,174	114,402
Aflac U.S.
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	19,706	19,893
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 2,476	$ 2,922

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(11))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Name:	us-gaap_Assets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant