CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues
Operating revenues	$ 2,271,503	$ 1,877,453	$ 1,887,882
Investment income	18,607	19,795	19,737
Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains	(1,678)	42,760	53
Revenues	2,288,432	1,940,008	1,907,672
Expenses
Amounts retained by agencies	944,480	799,229	827,046
Employee costs	613,195	567,173	562,469
Other operating expenses	375,188	345,349	345,307
Title losses and related claims	115,224	84,423	71,514
Depreciation and amortization	19,216	22,526	24,932
Interest	2,624	4,341	3,875
Total expenses	2,069,927	1,823,041	1,835,143
Income before taxes and noncontrolling interests	218,505	116,967	72,529
Income tax expense	(48,833)	(26,695)	(13,507)
Net income	169,672	90,272	59,022
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14,767	11,657	11,499
Net income attributable to Stewart	154,905	78,615	47,523
Net income attributable to Stewart
Net income	169,672	90,272	59,022
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	4,789	6,478	(10,488)
Change in net unrealized gains and losses on investments	15,443	15,184	(8,922)
Reclassification adjustment for realized gains and losses on investments	(511)	410	(922)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	19,721	22,072	(20,332)
Comprehensive income	189,393	112,344	38,690
Less comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14,767	11,657	11,499
Comprehensive income attributable to Stewart	$ 174,626	$ 100,687	$ 27,191
Basic average shares outstanding (in shares)	24,793	23,611	23,543
Basic earnings per share attributable to Stewart (in usd per share)	$ 6.25	$ 3.33	$ 2.02
Diluted average shares outstanding (in shares)	24,913	23,753	23,685
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Stewart (in usd per share)	$ 6.22	$ 3.31	$ 2.01
Title - Direct operations
Revenues
Operating revenues	$ 1,037,852	$ 869,457	$ 833,200
Title - Agency operations
Revenues
Operating revenues	1,151,030	970,540	1,003,959
Ancillary services
Revenues
Operating revenues	$ 82,621	$ 37,456	$ 50,723