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v3.10.0.1

Consolidated Statements of Income - CAD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Premium income |  |
Gross premiums | $ 39,150 | $ 36,361
Premiums ceded to reinsurers | (15,138) | (8,151)
Net premiums | 24,012 | 28,210
Investment income (note 3) |  |
Investment income | 13,560 | 13,649
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on assets supporting insurance and investment contract liabilities and on the macro hedge program | (9,028) | 5,718
Net investment income | 4,532 | 19,367
Other revenue (note 14) | 10,428 | 10,746
Total revenue | 38,972 | 58,323
Contract benefits and expenses To contract holders and beneficiaries |  |
Gross claims and benefits (note 7) | 27,878 | 24,994
Increase (decrease) in insurance contract liabilities | 2,907 | 20,023
Increase (decrease) in investment contract liabilities | 35 | 173
Benefits and expenses ceded to reinsurers | (5,153) | (8,158)
Decrease (increase) in reinsurance assets (note 7) | (9,733) | 2,269
Net benefits and claims | 15,934 | 39,301
General expenses | 7,957 | 7,233
Investment expenses (note 3) | 1,708 | 1,673
Commissions | 6,173 | 6,116
Interest expense | 1,275 | 1,139
Net premium taxes | 406 | 360
Total contract benefits and expenses | 33,453 | 55,822
Income before income taxes | 5,519 | 2,501
Income tax (expense) recovery | (632) | (239)
Net income | 4,887 | 2,262
Net income (loss) attributed to: |  |
Non-controlling interests | 214 | 194
Participating policyholders | (127) | (36)
Shareholders | 4,800 | 2,104
Net income | 4,887 | 2,262
Net income attributed to shareholders | 4,800 | 2,104
Preferred share dividends | (168) | (159)
Common shareholders' net income | $ 4,632 | $ 1,945
Earnings per share |  |
Basic earnings per common share (note 12) | $ 2.34 | $ 0.98
Diluted earnings per common share (note 12) | 2.33 | 0.98
Dividends per common share | $ 0.91 | $ 0.82

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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Increase decrease in investment contract liabilities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_IncreaseDecreaseInInvestmentContractLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Insurance claims and benefits gross. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_InsuranceClaimsAndBenefitsGross
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Insurance premium income. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_InsurancePremiumIncomeAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment expenses. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_InvestmentExpenses
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Investment Income Loss [abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_InvestmentIncomeLossAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Net insurance premium taxes. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_NetInsurancePremiumTaxes
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net investment income (loss). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_NetInvestmentIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Premiums ceded to reinsurers. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_PremiumsCededToReinsurers
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Profit loss attributable to common shareholders. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_ProfitLossAttributableToCommonShareholders
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Profit loss attributable to participating policyholders. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_ProfitLossAttributableToParticipatingPolicyholders
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Profit loss attributable to preferred share dividends. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_ProfitLossAttributableToPreferredShareDividends
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on assets supporting insurance and investment contract liabilities and on the macro hedge program. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfc_RealizedAndUnrealizedGainsLossesOnAssetsSupportingInsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesAndOnMacroHedgeProgram
Namespace Prefix: | mfc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration