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Investments (Fair Value Below Amortized Cost of Gross Unrealized Losses for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Gross unrealized losses with number of securities [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses $ 134,919us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss $ 324,600us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
Percentage Of Total Gross Unrealized Losses 100.00%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLosses 100.00%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLosses
Less Than 20 Percent [Member]    
Gross unrealized losses with number of securities [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses 111,965us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_LessThan20PercentMember
296,731us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_LessThan20PercentMember
Percentage Of Total Gross Unrealized Losses 83.00%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLosses
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_LessThan20PercentMember
91.40%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLosses
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_LessThan20PercentMember
More Than Or Equal To 20 Percent For Less Than Six Months [Member]    
Gross unrealized losses with number of securities [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses 13,698us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForLessThanSixMonthsMember
6,444us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForLessThanSixMonthsMember
Percentage Of Total Gross Unrealized Losses 10.10%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLosses
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForLessThanSixMonthsMember
2.00%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLosses
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForLessThanSixMonthsMember
More Than Or Equal To 20 Percent For Six Months Or Greater [Member]    
Gross unrealized losses with number of securities [Line Items]    
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses $ 9,256us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForSixMonthsOrGreaterMember
$ 21,425us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForSixMonthsOrGreaterMember
Percentage Of Total Gross Unrealized Losses 6.90%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLosses
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForSixMonthsOrGreaterMember
6.60%rga_PercentageOfTotalGrossUnrealizedLosses
/ rga_EstimatedFairValueRangesByPercentageAndTimeAxis
= rga_MoreThanOrEqualTo20PercentForSixMonthsOrGreaterMember