Note 4 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Details) - The Company’s Share of Net Income/(Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control					$ 98,286		$ 83,616
KimPru and KimPru II [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	2,500	[1]	2,300	[1]	5,100	[1]	4,200	[1]
KIR [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	6,200	[2],[3]	7,400	[2],[3]	13,000	[2],[3]	14,500	[2],[3]
Kimstone [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	800	[4]		[4]	(700)	[4]		[4]
BIG Shopping Centers [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	900	[5]	(500)	[5]	1,600	[5]	1,500	[5]
CPP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	1,600		1,600		3,100		3,000
Kimco Income Fund [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control		[6]	900	[6]	900	[6]	1,500	[6]
SEB Immobilien [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	200		300		500		500
Other Institutional Programs [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	100	[7]	1,200	[7]	100	[7]	2,400	[7]
RioCan [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	7,600		6,600		15,300		12,700
Latin America Portfolio [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	3,000	[8],[9]	30,500	[8],[9]	34,100	[8],[9]	32,100	[8],[9]
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	22,100	[10],[11],[12]	9,200	[10],[11],[12]	25,300	[10],[11],[12]	11,200	[10],[11],[12]
All Equity Method Investments [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures and Gains on Change in Control	$ 45,000		$ 59,500		$ 98,300		$ 83,600

[1] During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company purchased the remaining interest in an operating property for a purchase price of $15.8 million. As a result of this transaction, KimPru recognized an impairment charge of $4.0 million, of which the Company's share was $0.6 million.

[2] During the six months ended June 30, 2014, KIR recognized aggregate impairment charges of $4.0 million related to two properties which KIR anticipates selling within the next 18 months. KIR effectively shortened its anticipated hold period for these assets which resulted in the expected future cash flows being less than the carrying value. The Company's share of these impairment charges was $2.3 million.

[3] During the six months ended June 30, 2014, KIR sold two operating properties for a sales price of $17.7 million. In connection with the two dispositions, the Company recognized its share of an aggregate net gain of $1.1 million.

[4] During June 2013, Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII and the Company entered into a new joint venture (Kimstone) in which the Company owns a 33.3% noncontrolling interest.

[5] During the six months ended June 30, 2013, BIG recognized a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $13.7 million related to a property that was foreclosed on by a third party lender. The Company's share of this gain was $2.4 million.

[6] During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company purchased the remaining interest in KIF based on a gross fair value purchase price of $408.0 million. The Company evaluated this transaction pursuant to the FASB's Consolidation guidance. As such, the Company recognized a gain of $65.6 million from the fair value adjustment associated with the Company's original ownership due to a change in control and now consolidates these operating properties.

[7] During the six months ended June 30, 2014, a joint venture in which the Company holds a noncontrolling interest sold an operating property for a sales price of $11.3 million and recognized a gain of $0.3 million. The Company's share of this gain was $0.1 million.

[8] During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company sold its noncontrolling interest in nine operating properties located throughout Mexico for a sales price of $175.0 million. The Company recognized a gain of $30.7 million, before income taxes, associated with these transactions.

[9] During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company sold nine operating properties located throughout Mexico for $274.0 million which were held in unconsolidated joint ventures in which the Company has noncontrolling interests. This transaction resulted in a net gain of $48.6 million, after tax, of which the Company's share was $24.3 million.

[10] During the six months ended June 30, 2014, a joint venture in which the Company holds a noncontrolling interest sold eight operating properties for an aggregate sales price of $98.4 million and recognized an aggregate gain of $33.7 million. The Company's share of this gain was $17.7 million.

[11] During the six months ended June 30, 2013, a joint venture in which the Company has a noncontrolling interest recognized an impairment charge of $1.8 million related to the pending sale of a property. The Company's share of this impairment charge was $0.9 million.

[12] During June 2013, the Intown portfolio was sold for a sales price of $735.0 million which included the assignment of $609.2 million in debt. This transaction resulted in a deferred gain to the Company of $21.7 million.