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Federal Income Taxes (Components of Income Taxes) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Taxes (benefits) on earnings from continuing operations      
Current $ 29,395us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit $ 71,709us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit $ 51,886us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred 22,538us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (26,259)us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (3,863)us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) 51,933us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 45,450us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 48,023us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Taxes (benefits) on components of stockholders' equity 1,938us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax (21,604)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax 12,443us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
Total Federal income taxes (benefit) 53,870nwli_IncomeTaxesBenefitNetOfTaxAllocatedToEquity 23,856nwli_IncomeTaxesBenefitNetOfTaxAllocatedToEquity 60,467nwli_IncomeTaxesBenefitNetOfTaxAllocatedToEquity
Net Unrealized Gains and Losses on Securities Available for Sale [Member]      
Taxes (benefits) on earnings from continuing operations      
Taxes (benefits) on components of stockholders' equity 4,072us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
/ us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLocationAxis
= nwli_NetUnrealizedGainsAndLossesOnSecuritiesAvailableForSaleMember
(24,201)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
/ us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLocationAxis
= nwli_NetUnrealizedGainsAndLossesOnSecuritiesAvailableForSaleMember
13,011us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
/ us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLocationAxis
= nwli_NetUnrealizedGainsAndLossesOnSecuritiesAvailableForSaleMember
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]      
Taxes (benefits) on earnings from continuing operations      
Taxes (benefits) on components of stockholders' equity (358)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
/ us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLocationAxis
= nwli_ForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentsMember
(398)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
/ us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLocationAxis
= nwli_ForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentsMember
(157)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
/ us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLocationAxis
= nwli_ForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentsMember
Change in Benefit Liability [Member]      
Taxes (benefits) on earnings from continuing operations      
Taxes (benefits) on components of stockholders' equity $ (1,777)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
/ us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLocationAxis
= nwli_ChangeInBenefitLiabilityMember
$ 3,005us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
/ us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLocationAxis
= nwli_ChangeInBenefitLiabilityMember
$ (410)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
/ us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLocationAxis
= nwli_ChangeInBenefitLiabilityMember