FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS - Fair Value Hierarchy Levels of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	$ 79,431	$ 98,696
Equity securities	1,149	1,603
Other investments	1,695	1,726
Cash and cash equivalents	5,173	5,051
Asset derivatives	1,558	936
Total assets	89,006	108,012
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	2,130	1,619
Total liabilities	2,130	1,619
Foreign currency swaps
Assets:
Asset derivatives	221	137
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	457	427
Foreign currency forwards
Assets:
Asset derivatives	1,330	791
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	1,331	1,138
Foreign currency options
Assets:
Asset derivatives	7	8
Interest rate swaps
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	342	54
Government and agencies
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	25,959	33,820
Municipalities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	2,468	3,036
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	1,952	1,246
Public utilities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	7,957	10,051
Sovereign and supranational
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	913	1,115
Banks/financial institutions
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	9,625	11,591
Other corporate
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	30,557	37,837
Level 1
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	24,960	32,532
Equity securities	888	1,340
Other investments	1,695	1,726
Cash and cash equivalents	5,173	5,051
Asset derivatives	0	0
Total assets	32,716	40,649
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	0	0
Level 1 \| Foreign currency swaps
Assets:
Asset derivatives	0	0
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	0	0
Level 1 \| Foreign currency forwards
Assets:
Asset derivatives	0	0
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	0	0
Level 1 \| Foreign currency options
Assets:
Asset derivatives	0	0
Level 1 \| Interest rate swaps
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	0	0
Level 1 \| Government and agencies
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	24,960	32,532
Level 1 \| Municipalities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	0	0
Level 1 \| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	0	0
Level 1 \| Public utilities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	0	0
Level 1 \| Sovereign and supranational
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	0	0
Level 1 \| Banks/financial institutions
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	0	0
Level 1 \| Other corporate
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	0	0
Level 2
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	52,864	64,866
Equity securities	71	90
Other investments	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Asset derivatives	1,558	936
Total assets	54,493	65,892
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	2,130	1,619
Level 2 \| Foreign currency swaps
Assets:
Asset derivatives	221	137
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	457	427
Level 2 \| Foreign currency forwards
Assets:
Asset derivatives	1,330	791
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	1,331	1,138
Level 2 \| Foreign currency options
Assets:
Asset derivatives	7	8
Level 2 \| Interest rate swaps
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	342	54
Level 2 \| Government and agencies
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	999	1,288
Level 2 \| Municipalities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	2,468	3,036
Level 2 \| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	1,641	955
Level 2 \| Public utilities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	7,420	9,558
Level 2 \| Sovereign and supranational
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	877	1,072
Level 2 \| Banks/financial institutions
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	9,534	11,546
Level 2 \| Other corporate
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	29,925	37,411
Level 3
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	1,607	1,298
Equity securities	190	173
Other investments	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Asset derivatives	0	0
Total assets	1,797	1,471
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	0	0
Level 3 \| Foreign currency swaps
Assets:
Asset derivatives	0	0
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	0	0
Level 3 \| Foreign currency forwards
Assets:
Asset derivatives	0	0
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	0	0
Level 3 \| Foreign currency options
Assets:
Asset derivatives	0	0
Level 3 \| Interest rate swaps
Liabilities:
Liability derivatives	0	0
Level 3 \| Government and agencies
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	0	0
Level 3 \| Municipalities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	0	0
Level 3 \| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	311	291
Level 3 \| Public utilities
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	537	493
Level 3 \| Sovereign and supranational
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	36	43
Level 3 \| Banks/financial institutions
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	91	45
Level 3 \| Other corporate
Assets:
Available for sale, fixed maturity securities	$ 632	$ 426

Other Investments Carried at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure

No definition available.

Name:	afl_OtherInvestmentsCarriedatFairValueFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	afl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126976982&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(6))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126897435&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124258926&loc=SL82898722-210454

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124260329&loc=d3e26610-111562

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (aa)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126970911&loc=d3e27161-111563

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226008-175313

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 22
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226052-175313

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123594938&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226008-175313

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123594938&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 22
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226052-175313

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI), classified as current.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(2))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124098289&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123594786&loc=SL75136599-209740

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value of financial and nonfinancial obligations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=afl_GovernmentAndAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_MunicipalBondsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_PublicUtilityBondsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_SovereignDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=afl_BanksAndFinancialInstitutionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: