CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues
Operating revenues	$ 1,877,453	$ 1,887,882	$ 1,934,585
Investment income	19,795	19,737	18,932
Net realized and unrealized gains	42,760	53	2,207
Revenues	1,940,008	1,907,672	1,955,724
Expenses
Amounts retained by agencies	799,229	827,046	837,100
Employee costs	567,173	562,469	566,178
Other operating expenses	345,349	345,307	351,511
Title losses and related claims	84,423	71,514	96,532
Depreciation and amortization	22,526	24,932	25,878
Interest	4,341	3,875	3,458
Total expenses	1,823,041	1,835,143	1,880,657
Income before taxes and noncontrolling interests	116,967	72,529	75,067
Income tax expense	26,695	13,507	14,921
Net income	90,272	59,022	60,146
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11,657	11,499	11,487
Net income attributable to Stewart	78,615	47,523	48,659
Net income attributable to Stewart
Net income	90,272	59,022	60,146
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	6,478	(10,488)	8,354
Change in net unrealized gains and losses on investments	15,184	(8,922)	1,766
Reclassification adjustment for change in unrealized gains and losses included in net income	410	(922)	(2,086)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	22,072	(20,332)	8,034
Comprehensive income	112,344	38,690	68,180
Less comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11,657	11,499	11,487
Comprehensive income attributable to Stewart	$ 100,687	$ 27,191	$ 56,693
Basic average shares outstanding (in shares)	23,611	23,543	23,445
Basic earnings per share attributable to Stewart (in usd per share)	$ 3.33	$ 2.02	$ 2.08
Diluted average shares outstanding (in shares)	23,753	23,685	23,597
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Stewart (in usd per share)	$ 3.31	$ 2.01	$ 2.06
Title - Direct operations
Revenues
Operating revenues	$ 869,457	$ 833,200	$ 862,392
Title - Agency operations
Revenues
Operating revenues	970,540	1,003,959	1,016,356
Ancillary services
Revenues
Operating revenues	$ 37,456	$ 50,723	$ 55,837