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BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - Operations by Segment - Pretax Earnings (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings | $ 1,169 |  | $ 1,205
Realized investment gains (losses), non-operating | (56) | [1] |
Realized investment gains (losses) | (46) |  | 156
Other non-operating income (loss) | (9) |  | 0
Earnings before income taxes | 1,104 |  | 1,361
Income taxes applicable to pretax operating earnings | 395 |  | 415
Effect of foreign currency translation on operating earnings | (48) |  | (71)
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative, interest rate component, operating | 10 |  |
Aflac Japan |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings | 933 |  | 989
Aflac U.S. |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings | 303 |  | 281
Total Business Segments |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings | 1,236 |  | 1,270
Interest expense, noninsurance operations |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings | (50) |  | (48)
Corporate and eliminations |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings | $ (17) |  | $ (17)
[1] | Excluding a gain of $10 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 related to the interest rate component of the change in fair value of foreign currency swaps on notes payable which is classified as an operating gain when analyzing segment operations

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- Definition Gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative, interest rate component, considered an operating gain (loss) when analyzing segment operations + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents the net total realized and unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling or holding marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, including the unrealized holding gain (loss) of held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category and the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) for available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period. Additionally, this item would include any gains (losses) realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(c),9(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27405-111563 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (c)-(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563 + Details
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