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Investments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]      
Loans originated during the year $ 37,100,000us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateOtherAdditions $ 34,100,000us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateOtherAdditions  
Recognized valuation losses 0us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses 0us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses 700,000us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses
Real estate investments 28,774,000us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestments 30,991,000us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestments  
Realized gains (losses) on investments 11,605,000us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses 8,653,000us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses 13,200,000us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
Debt securities [Member]      
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]      
Realized gains (losses) on investments 11,800,000us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
9,000,000us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
14,500,000us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Held-to-maturity Securities [Member]      
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]      
Realized loss on a security sold     300,000us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesSoldSecurityRealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember
Real Estate [Member]      
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]      
Real estate investments 16,700,000us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
18,200,000us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
 
Operating income recognized on real estate investment properties 1,700,000us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncome
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
1,700,000us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncome
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
1,600,000us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncome
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
Realized gains (losses) on investments 1,000,000us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
300,000us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
2,600,000us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RealEstateMember
Other-than Temporary Impairment Write-down on Investments [Member]      
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]      
Realized gains (losses) on investments 200,000us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses
/ nwli_TypeOfRealizedGainLossAxis
= nwli_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentWriteDownOnInvestmentsMember
   
External Credit Rating, Non Investment Grade [Member] | Debt securities [Member]      
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]      
Debt securities below investment grade $ 147,100,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAndHeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingByGroupingAxis
= us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingNonInvestmentGradeMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
$ 178,600,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAndHeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingByGroupingAxis
= us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingNonInvestmentGradeMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
 
Debt securities below investment grade, percentage of total invested assets 1.50%nwli_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAndHeldToMaturitySecuritiesPercentageOfTotalInvestedAssets
/ us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingByGroupingAxis
= us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingNonInvestmentGradeMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
1.90%nwli_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAndHeldToMaturitySecuritiesPercentageOfTotalInvestedAssets
/ us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingByGroupingAxis
= us-gaap_ExternalCreditRatingNonInvestmentGradeMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember