XML 172 R45.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

BUSINESS SEGMENT AND FOREIGN INFORMATION - Additional Information (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) segment | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Reportable insurance business segments | segment | 2 |
Total receivables related to Aflac Japan's operations | $ 828 | $ 851
Aflac Japan |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Total receivables related to Aflac Japan's operations | $ 258 | $ 334
Percentage of total receivables related to Aflac Japan's operations | 31.20% | 39.20%
Maximum | Machinery and equipment |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life | 20 years |
Maximum | Building |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life | 50 years |
Maximum | Furniture and fixtures |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life | 20 years |

X
- Definition Percentage of the carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, of all premiums and other types of receivables due from other persons or entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | afl_PercentageOfTotalPremiumsAndOtherReceivablesNet
Namespace Prefix: | afl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, of all premiums and other types of receivables due from other persons or entities. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PremiumsAndOtherReceivablesNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
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_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
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: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorPropertyClassAxis=us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorPropertyClassAxis=us-gaap_BuildingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorPropertyClassAxis=us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |