Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Consolidation And Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]

Consolidation Policy Text Block

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated ("RGA") is an insurance holding company that was formed on December 31, 1992. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of RGA and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Results for the three monthsended March 31, 2012 arenot necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012. There were no subsequent eventsthat would require disclosure or adjustments to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements through the date the financial statements were issued. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of RGA and its subsidiaries and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K (“2011 Annual Report”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2012.

Prior Period Reclassifications [Text Block]

The Company has adjusted the presentation of certain prior-period information to conform to the current presentation. Such adjustmentsreflect the retrospective adoption of the amended general accounting principles for Financial Services – Insurance as it relates to accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts. The financial statements and notes to the financial statements presented herein have been adjusted to reflect the retrospective adoption of the new accounting principles. See below for additional information.All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.