Name:	rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumer
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Financing receivables that are less than 60 days past due but more than 29 days past due.

Reference 1: 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=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment30To59DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Financing receivables that are less than 90 days past due but more than 59 days past due.

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment60To89DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentAgingAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Financing receivables that are current.

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

Financing receivables that are equal to or greater than 90 days past due.

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

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