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Investments (Exposure To Concentrations Of Credit Risk) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis $ 14,010,604us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost $ 11,697,394us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Available-for-sale Securities 14,885,583us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities 12,110,755us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Canadian Province Of Ontario Securities [Member]    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis 979,908us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis
= rga_CanadianProvinceOfOntarioSecuritiesMember		 1,023,427us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis
= rga_CanadianProvinceOfOntarioSecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale Securities 1,359,339us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis
= rga_CanadianProvinceOfOntarioSecuritiesMember		 1,222,296us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis
= rga_CanadianProvinceOfOntarioSecuritiesMember
Canadian Province Of Quebec Securities [Member]    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis 1,006,315us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis
= rga_CanadianProvinceOfQuebecSecuritiesMember		 1,041,462us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis
= rga_CanadianProvinceOfQuebecSecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale Securities $ 1,599,673us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis
= rga_CanadianProvinceOfQuebecSecuritiesMember		 $ 1,389,138us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis
= rga_CanadianProvinceOfQuebecSecuritiesMember