XML 48 R31.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - Operations by Segment - Pretax Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings |  | $ 1,147 | $ 1,027 |  | $ 3,336 | $ 3,058 |
Realized investment gains (losses), non-operating | [1] | (166) | (136) |  | (324) | (36) |
Other non-operating income (loss) |  | (18) | (27) | [2] | (98) | (270) | [2],[3]
Earnings before income taxes |  | 963 | 864 |  | 2,914 | 2,752 |
Income taxes applicable to pretax operating earnings |  | 399 | 355 |  | 1,154 | 1,057 |
Effect of foreign currency translation on operating earnings |  | 61 | (58) |  | 110 | (175) |
Gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative, interest rate component, operating |  | 20 | 22 |  | 64 | 62 |
Gain (Loss) on Investments |  | (146) | (114) |  | (260) | 26 |
September Twenty Fifteen Profit Repatriation |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Realized |  |  | 14 |  |  | 14 |
8.50% senior notes due May 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt, make-whole premium |  |  |  |  |  | 230 |
Aflac Japan |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings |  | 882 | 789 |  | 2,559 | 2,365 |
Aflac U.S. |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings |  | 323 | 286 |  | 946 | 864 |
Other business segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings |  | 4 | 5 |  | 12 | 10 |
Total Business Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings |  | 1,209 | 1,080 |  | 3,517 | 3,239 |
Interest expense, noninsurance operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings |  | (31) | (30) |  | (90) | (117) |
Corporate and eliminations |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax operating earnings |  | $ (31) | $ (23) |  | $ (91) | $ (64) |
[1] | Excluding a gain of $20 and $22 for the three-month periods and $64 and $62 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016, and 2015, respectively, 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
[2] | Includes a loss of $14 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015, related to the change in value of yen repatriation received in advance of settlement of certain foreign currency derivatives. This loss was offset by derivative gains included in realized investment gains (losses).
[3] | Includes a cash outflow of $230 for the make-whole payment associated with the early extinguishment of debt

X
- Definition Effect of foreign currency translation on operating earnings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | afl_EffectOfForeignCurrencyTranslationOnOperatingEarnings
Namespace Prefix: | afl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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
Name: | afl_GainLossOnChangeInFairValueOfDerivativeInterestRateComponentOperating
Namespace Prefix: | afl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Gain (Loss) on Investments, Non-operating + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | afl_GainLossOnInvestmentsNonoperating
Namespace Prefix: | afl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Income taxes applicable to pretax operating earnings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | afl_IncomeTaxesApplicableToPretaxOperatingEarnings
Namespace Prefix: | afl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64836518&loc=d3e30690-110894 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64836518&loc=d3e30700-110894 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossRealized
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (c)-(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27357-111563 Reference 2: 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=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: 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=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 4: 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=73527792&loc=d3e27405-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of income (expense) related to nonoperating activities, classified as other. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SegmentReportingReconcilingItemForOperatingProfitLossFromSegmentToConsolidatedLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | afl_ProfitRepatriationAxis=afl_SeptemberTwentyFifteenProfitRepatriationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=afl_SeniorNotesEightPointFiveZeroPercentDueMayTwentyNineteenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=afl_AflacJapanMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=afl_AflacUsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=afl_CorporateAndEliminationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |