Financial Condition and Net Income on a Statutory Basis - Significant Subsidiaries (Statutory Accounting Practices Disclosure) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
RGA Reinsurance [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	$ 1,528,301		$ 1,550,070
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	17,085		115,814		3,497
RCM [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	1,625,276		1,633,356
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	126,326		109,084		58,549
RGA Canada [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	915,130		767,108
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	225,083		89,428		95,861
RGA Barbados [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	690,392		716,115
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	39,236		70,940		81,942
RGA Australia [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	373,606		403,584
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	901		(70,404)		37,180
RGA Atlantic [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	435,408		379,891
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	113,055		(27,137)		91,898
RGA Americas [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	2,787,552	[1]	2,246,496	[1]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	236,215	[1]	147,363	[1]	258,257	[1]
Other Reinsurance Subsidiaries [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	1,600,197		1,003,215
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	$ (663,869)		$ 253,364		$ (428,049)

[1] RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada and RGA Atlantic Reinsurance Company Ltd. were contributed to RGA Americas in 2014 as part of its designation as a certified reinsurer. All prior periods have been adjusted to reflect that change.