XML 47 R35.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION - Operations by Segment - Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Sep. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | ---
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items] |  |
Assets | $ 136,083 | $ 129,819
Aflac Japan |  |
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items] |  |
Assets | 113,625 | 107,858
Aflac U.S. |  |
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items] |  |
Assets | 20,348 | 19,453
Other business segments |  |
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items] |  |
Assets | 513 | 270
Total Business Segments |  |
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items] |  |
Assets | 134,486 | 127,581
Corporate and eliminations |  |
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items] |  |
Assets | $ 1,597 | $ 2,238

X
- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(12)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(11)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Assets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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_SegmentReportingAssetReconcilingItemLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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=afl_CorporateAndEliminationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |