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  <xsd:element id="afl_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationUnrecognizedCompensationCostsNonvestedAwardsNumberOfShares" name="EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationUnrecognizedCompensationCostsNonvestedAwardsNumberOfShares" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
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  <xsd:element id="afl_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld" name="FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetChangeInUnrealizedGainsLossesStillHeld" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element id="afl_LengthOfVolatilityOfJapaneseYenToUsDollarExchangeRate" name="LengthOfVolatilityOfJapaneseYenToUsDollarExchangeRate" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureFinancialInstrumentsCarriedAtCost" name="LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureFinancialInstrumentsCarriedAtCost" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
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  <xsd:element id="afl_NonDerivativeHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToEarningsNet" name="NonDerivativeHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToEarningsNet" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element id="afl_NumberOfCounterpartiesThatCompriseMajorityOfAggregateNotionalAmountOfSwaps" name="NumberOfCounterpartiesThatCompriseMajorityOfAggregateNotionalAmountOfSwaps" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_NumberOfCurrencies" name="NumberOfCurrencies" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_NumberOfIncentiveCompensationPlans" name="NumberOfIncentiveCompensationPlans" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_NumberOfIssuers" name="NumberOfIssuers" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_NumberOfIssuersThatCompriseMajorityOfUnrealizedLossesOnInvestments" name="NumberOfIssuersThatCompriseMajorityOfUnrealizedLossesOnInvestments" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_NumberOfReportableInsuranceBusinessSegments" name="NumberOfReportableInsuranceBusinessSegments" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_ObligationToJapanesePolicyholderProtectionCorporationCarryingValue" name="ObligationToJapanesePolicyholderProtectionCorporationCarryingValue" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_ObligationToJapanesePolicyholderProtectionCorporationFairValueDisclosure" name="ObligationToJapanesePolicyholderProtectionCorporationFairValueDisclosure" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_ObligationToReturnCashOrSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateral" name="ObligationToReturnCashOrSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateral" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
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  <xsd:element id="afl_OffsettingLiabilitiesTableTableTextBlock" name="OffsettingLiabilitiesTableTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_OffsettingliabilitiestableLineItems" name="OffsettingliabilitiestableLineItems" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element id="afl_OtherAdditionsDuringPeriodShares" name="OtherAdditionsDuringPeriodShares" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
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  <xsd:element id="afl_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleAndWriteDownOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax" name="OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleAndWriteDownOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTaxAndReclassificationAdjustments" name="OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTaxAndReclassificationAdjustments" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_OtherSubordinatedSecuritiesNonBanksMember" name="OtherSubordinatedSecuritiesNonBanksMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesOnInvestmentSecuritiesTableTextBlock" name="OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesOnInvestmentSecuritiesTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PercentageOfCompanyAssets" name="PercentageOfCompanyAssets" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PercentageOfCompanyRevenue" name="PercentageOfCompanyRevenue" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PercentageOfNotionalAmountOfSwapsFromCertainNumberOfCounterparties" name="PercentageOfNotionalAmountOfSwapsFromCertainNumberOfCounterparties" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PercentageOfTotalInvestmentPortfolioAmortizedCost" name="PercentageOfTotalInvestmentPortfolioAmortizedCost" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PercentageOfTotalInvestmentPortfolioFairValue" name="PercentageOfTotalInvestmentPortfolioFairValue" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PercentageOfTotalInvestmentsInUnrealizedLossPosition" name="PercentageOfTotalInvestmentsInUnrealizedLossPosition" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PercentageOfTotalUnrealizedLosses" name="PercentageOfTotalUnrealizedLosses" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_PerformanceBasedVestingConditionMember" name="PerformanceBasedVestingConditionMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PerpetualSecuritiesEconomicMaturityPeriod" name="PerpetualSecuritiesEconomicMaturityPeriod" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PerpetualSecuritiesFloatingShortTermInterestRateBasisAboveMarketIndex" name="PerpetualSecuritiesFloatingShortTermInterestRateBasisAboveMarketIndex" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_PerpetualSecuritiesMember" name="PerpetualSecuritiesMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_PolicyLiabilitiesAbstract" name="PolicyLiabilitiesAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PostretirementMedicalBenefitsNumberOfYearsOfServiceForEligibility" name="PostretirementMedicalBenefitsNumberOfYearsOfServiceForEligibility" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PostretirementMedicalBenefitsQualifyingAge" name="PostretirementMedicalBenefitsQualifyingAge" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_PostretirementMedicalBenefitsQualifyingAgeAndServicePeriodCombined" name="PostretirementMedicalBenefitsQualifyingAgeAndServicePeriodCombined" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSalePerpetualSecurities" name="ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSalePerpetualSecurities" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSalePerpetualSecurities" name="ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSalePerpetualSecurities" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_ReclassificationAdjustmentOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLineItems" name="ReclassificationAdjustmentOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLineItems" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax" name="ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLineItems" name="ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLineItems" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember" name="ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeTable" name="ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeTable" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeTableTextBlock" name="ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_ReclassificationoutofaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeAxis" name="ReclassificationoutofaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeAxis" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:dimensionItem" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_ReclassificationoutofaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeDomain" name="ReclassificationoutofaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeDomain" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_ScheduleOfFairValueOfAssetsAndLiabilitiesCarriedAtCostWithFairValuesDisclosedTableTextBlock" name="ScheduleOfFairValueOfAssetsAndLiabilitiesCarriedAtCostWithFairValuesDisclosedTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SecondStockOptionPlanMember" name="SecondStockOptionPlanMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_SecuritiesContinousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses" name="SecuritiesContinousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses" name="SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses" name="SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLossesPercentageInvestmentGradeOrBelowInvestmentGrade" name="SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLossesPercentageInvestmentGradeOrBelowInvestmentGrade" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue" name="SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue" name="SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue" name="SecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_SecuritiesLoanedAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral" name="SecuritiesLoanedAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_SecuritiesLoanedCollateralObligationToReturnCash" name="SecuritiesLoanedCollateralObligationToReturnCash" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_SecuritiesLoanedTotal" name="SecuritiesLoanedTotal" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SeniorNotesEightPointFiveZeroPercentDueMayTwentyNineteenMember" name="SeniorNotesEightPointFiveZeroPercentDueMayTwentyNineteenMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SeniorNotesFourPointZeroZeroPercentDueFebruaryTwentyTwentyTwoMember" name="SeniorNotesFourPointZeroZeroPercentDueFebruaryTwentyTwentyTwoMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SeniorNotesSixPointFourFivePercentDueAugustTwentyFortyMember" name="SeniorNotesSixPointFourFivePercentDueAugustTwentyFortyMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SeniorNotesSixPointNineZeroPercentDueDecemberTwentyThirtyNineMember" name="SeniorNotesSixPointNineZeroPercentDueDecemberTwentyThirtyNineMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SeniorNotesThreePointFourFivePercentDueAugustTwentyFifteenMember" name="SeniorNotesThreePointFourFivePercentDueAugustTwentyFifteenMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SeniorNotesTwoPointSixFivePercentDueFebruaryTwentySeventeenMember" name="SeniorNotesTwoPointSixFivePercentDueFebruaryTwentySeventeenMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SeverityAndDurationOfDeclineInFairValueRelatedImpairmentMember" name="SeverityAndDurationOfDeclineInFairValueRelatedImpairmentMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationTerm" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationTerm" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:decimalItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_ShareBasedCompensationGrantsMember" name="ShareBasedCompensationGrantsMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_ShareRepurchaseAuthorization2008Member" name="ShareRepurchaseAuthorization2008Member" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_ShareholderDividendReinvestmentMember" name="ShareholderDividendReinvestmentMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems" name="SignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTable" name="SignificantAccountingPoliciesTable" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_StockOptionPlanEffectiveUntilFebruary2007Member" name="StockOptionPlanEffectiveUntilFebruary2007Member" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_StockholdersEquityNoteLineItems" name="StockholdersEquityNoteLineItems" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_StockholdersEquityNoteTable" name="StockholdersEquityNoteTable" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_SubordinatedNotesFivePointFiveZeroPercentDueSeptemberTwentyFiftyTwoMember" name="SubordinatedNotesFivePointFiveZeroPercentDueSeptemberTwentyFiftyTwoMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_ThirdPartyPricingVendorValuationTechniqueMember" name="ThirdPartyPricingVendorValuationTechniqueMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_TierIMember" name="TierIMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_TotalDebtAndPerpetualSecuritiesAmortizedCost" name="TotalDebtAndPerpetualSecuritiesAmortizedCost" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_TotalDebtAndPerpetualSecuritiesFairValue" name="TotalDebtAndPerpetualSecuritiesFairValue" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_TotalFinancialInstrumentLiabilitiesNotCarriedAtFairValue" name="TotalFinancialInstrumentLiabilitiesNotCarriedAtFairValue" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_TotalPolicyLiabilities" name="TotalPolicyLiabilities" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_TreasuryStockActivityByTypeAxis" name="TreasuryStockActivityByTypeAxis" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:dimensionItem" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_TreasuryStockActivityByTypeDomain" name="TreasuryStockActivityByTypeDomain" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_TreasuryStockIssuedForAbstract" name="TreasuryStockIssuedForAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_TreasuryStockIssuedRollForward" name="TreasuryStockIssuedRollForward" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="afl_TreasuryStockSharesAcquiredInOpenMarket" name="TreasuryStockSharesAcquiredInOpenMarket" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_TypeOfImpairmentAxis" name="TypeOfImpairmentAxis" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:dimensionItem" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_TypeOfImpairmentDomain" name="TypeOfImpairmentDomain" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_UpperTierIIMember" name="UpperTierIIMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_WithinOneYearFromBalanceSheetDateMember" name="WithinOneYearFromBalanceSheetDateMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_YenDenominatedLoanThreePointSixZeroPercentDueJulyTwentyFifteenMember" name="YenDenominatedLoanThreePointSixZeroPercentDueJulyTwentyFifteenMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_YenDenominatedLoanThreePointZeroZeroPercentDueAugustTwentyFifteenMember" name="YenDenominatedLoanThreePointZeroZeroPercentDueAugustTwentyFifteenMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_YenDenominatedSamuraiNotesOnePointEightFourPercentDueJulyTwentySixteenMember" name="YenDenominatedSamuraiNotesOnePointEightFourPercentDueJulyTwentySixteenMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_YenDenominatedSamuraiNotesOnePointFourSevenPercentDueJulyTwentyFourteenMember" name="YenDenominatedSamuraiNotesOnePointFourSevenPercentDueJulyTwentyFourteenMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_YenDenominatedSamuraiNotesVariableInterestRateDueJulyTwentyFourteenMember" name="YenDenominatedSamuraiNotesVariableInterestRateDueJulyTwentyFourteenMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_YenDenominatedSecuritiesMember" name="YenDenominatedSecuritiesMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="afl_YenDenominatedUridashiNotesTwoPointTwoSixPercentDueSeptemberTwentySixteenMember" name="YenDenominatedUridashiNotesTwoPointTwoSixPercentDueSeptemberTwentySixteenMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
</xsd:schema>
