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Fair Value of Financial Instruments Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]      
Ceded Policy Loans $ 3,068.4unm_PolicyLoansCededtoReinsurers $ 3,043.7unm_PolicyLoansCededtoReinsurers  
Long-term Debt 2,628.7us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations 2,612.0us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations  
Gain (Loss) on Embedded Derivative 3.3us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet 30.7us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet 51.8us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
Other Than Fair Value Inputs Level 1      
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]      
Percentage of Total Fair Value of Fixed Maturities Securities 93.40%unm_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesPercentOfTotalFairValue
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Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1      
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]      
Long-term Debt 849.7us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
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1,329.2us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
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Percentage of Total Fair Value of Fixed Maturities Securities 6.60%unm_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesPercentOfTotalFairValue
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Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2      
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]      
Long-term Debt $ 2,062.9us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
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$ 1,495.2us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
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Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Pricing Service      
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]      
Percentage of Total Fair Value of Fixed Maturities Securities 78.10%unm_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesPercentOfTotalFairValue
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Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Other Observable Market Data      
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]      
Percentage of Total Fair Value of Fixed Maturities Securities 3.50%unm_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesPercentOfTotalFairValue
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Fair Value Inputs Level 2 Or Level 3      
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]      
Percentage of Total Fair Value of Fixed Maturities Securities 11.80%unm_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesPercentOfTotalFairValue
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Minimum      
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]      
Private Equity Partnership Future Liquidation Term 1 year    
Maximum      
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]      
Private Equity Partnership Future Liquidation Term 13 years