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Investments (Unrealized Losses) (Details)
Dec. 31, 2014
securities
Debt securities [Member]  
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]  
Gross unrealized losses, number of issues 190nwli_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossesNumberOfSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Gross unrealized losses, percentage of total debt 14.50%nwli_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossesNumberOfSecuritiesAsPercentageOfTotalDebt
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Gross unrealized losses, market value as a percent of amortized cost 97.80%nwli_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossesMarketValueOfBondsPercentOfAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities with maturities of 12 months or greater 148nwli_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossesNumberOfSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesTwelveMonthsOrGreater
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities with maturities of 12 months or greater (as a percentage) 77.50%nwli_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossesNumberOfSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesTwelveMonthsOrGreaterPercentOfTotal
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Equity Securities [Member]  
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]  
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade 16us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Other-than-temporarily impaired securities, number of securities rated investment grade 4nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesNumberOfSecuritiesRatedInvestmentGrade
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
External Credit Rating, Investment Grade [Member] | Debt securities [Member]  
Available-for-Sale Securities and Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]  
Gross unrealized losses, number of securities rated investment grade 186us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions
/ us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingByGroupingAxis
= us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingInvestmentGradeMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember