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Investments (Mortgage Loans by Credit Quality Indicator) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Credit Quality Indicators [Line Items]    
Loans Receivable, Gross, Commercial, Real Estate $ 2,718,709us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate $ 2,496,786us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
High Investment Grade [Member]    
Credit Quality Indicators [Line Items]    
Loans Receivable, Gross, Commercial, Real Estate 1,326,199us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
/ rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis
= rga_HighInvestmentGradeMember		 1,437,244us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
/ rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis
= rga_HighInvestmentGradeMember
Investment Grade [Member]    
Credit Quality Indicators [Line Items]    
Loans Receivable, Gross, Commercial, Real Estate 1,235,046us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
/ rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis
= rga_InvestmentGradeMember		 827,993us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
/ rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis
= rga_InvestmentGradeMember
Average [Member]    
Credit Quality Indicators [Line Items]    
Loans Receivable, Gross, Commercial, Real Estate 118,152us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
/ rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis
= rga_AverageMember		 155,914us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
/ rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis
= rga_AverageMember
Watch List [Member]    
Credit Quality Indicators [Line Items]    
Loans Receivable, Gross, Commercial, Real Estate 22,285us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
/ rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis
= rga_WatchListMember		 49,404us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
/ rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis
= rga_WatchListMember
In Or Near Default [Member]    
Credit Quality Indicators [Line Items]    
Loans Receivable, Gross, Commercial, Real Estate $ 17,027us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
/ rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis
= rga_InOrNearDefaultMember		 $ 26,231us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
/ rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis
= rga_InOrNearDefaultMember