Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Reverse Repurchase Agreements

No definition available.

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- Definition

Funds Withheld At Interest concentrated with one client.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_FundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreementsAssetSpecificClient
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Funds Withheld At Interest As A Percentage Of Total Investments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_FundsWithheldAtInterestPercentOfTotalInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Mortgage Loans as a Percent Of total Cash And Invested Assets

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_MortgageLoanPercentOfCashAndInvestedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum loan-to-value ratio at the time of mortgage loan approval.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_MortgageLoanToValueRatioOnApproval
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount represents the total percentage of each property type in comparison to the total of mortgage loans whose balance represents the amount of loans that are secured by real estate mortgages, offset by the reserve to cover probable credit losses on the loan portfolio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Net amount, after affects of netting, from repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements presented on the Balance sheet.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_NetAmountAssetsLiabilitiesFromRepurchaseReverseRepurchaseAgreements
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Other Invested Assets as a Percent Of total Cash And Invested Assets

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_OtherInvestedAssetsPercentOfCashAndInvestedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Policy Loans as a percentage of total investments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_PolicyLoansPercentOfTotalInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesSoldAtLoss
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Securities as percentage of consolidated stockholder equity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_SecuritiesAsPercentageOfConsolidatedStockholderEquity
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Securities Borrowed Or Pledged, Minimum Fair Value Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rga_SecuritiesBorrowedOrPledgedMinimumFairValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of loss realized on the sale of debt or equity securities classified as available-for-sale. Excludes other than temporary impairments (OTTI).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of investment positions in available-for-sale investments in a continuous unrealized loss position for which an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) has not been recognized in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27290-111563

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Recorded Investment in financing receivables that are past due at the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Recorded Investment
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65880944

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66008989&loc=SL6953401-111524

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the reinsurer's funds held on its behalf by the ceding insurer, including funds held in trust, under reinsurance treaties or contracts with the assuming insurer as security for the payment of the obligations thereunder.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.2,10)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8B
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis=stpr_CA
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Period Type:

Investments (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Investments (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) securities	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) securities	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) securities	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Investment Narrative [Line Items]
Net Amount Assets Liabilities From Repurchase Reverse Repurchase Agreements	$ 3,300		$ 3,300
Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Sold At Loss	317,300	$ 404,100	903,100	$ 1,255,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Realized Losses, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments	9,054	22,186	43,397	50,257
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings, Credit Losses on Debt Securities Held	6,974	7,284	6,974	7,284	$ 6,974	$ 7,284	$ 7,284	$ 7,284
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	$ 0		$ 0			$ 0
Policy Loans Percent Of Total Investments	3.10%		3.10%			3.50%
Mortgage Loan To Value Ratio on Approval			75.00%
Mortgage Loan Percent Of Cash And Invested Assets	7.80%		7.80%			7.50%
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains	$ 46,346	$ 13,792	$ 127,153	$ 53,002
Available-for-sale, Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions, Qualitative Disclosure, Number of Positions \| securities	755		755			2,080
Securities As Percentage Of Consolidated Stockholder Equity	10.00%		10.00%
Securities Borrowed Or Pledged, Minimum Fair Value Percentage			100.00%
Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Reverse Repurchase Agreements			100.00%
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	100.00%		100.00%			100.00%
Funds Withheld At Interest Percent Of Total Investments	12.80%		12.80%			14.00%
Funds withheld at interest	$ 5,922,656		$ 5,922,656			$ 5,880,203
Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset Specific Client	$ 4,000,000		$ 4,000,000
Other Invested Assets Percent Of Cash And Invested Assets	3.80%		3.80%			3.10%
CALIFORNIA
Investment Narrative [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	23.40%		23.40%			22.30%