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Pension and Other Postretirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2007
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Accumulated benefit obligation $ 23,300,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation $ 21,200,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation  
Amortization of net loss 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfGainLoss    
Amortization of prior service cost 103,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit    
Average rate of return 6.14%nwli_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsAverageRateOfReturn    
Average rate of return, inception to date 7.28%nwli_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsInceptionToDateRateOfReturn    
Chairman and President Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plans [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Accumulated benefit obligation 17,700,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
17,600,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Amortization of net loss 1,487,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Amortization of prior service cost 59,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Defined Benefit Pension Plans [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Vesting percentage in accrued benefits from plan freeze     100.00%nwli_DefinedBenefitPlansVestingPercentageInAccruedBenefits
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Amortization of net loss $ (509,300)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember