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Financial Condition and Net Income on a Statutory Basis - Significant Subs (Narrative Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Statutory Basis [Abstract] |
Number Of Preceeding Months To Accumulate Dividend Paid For Approval | 12
Future Dividend Payment Restricted To Such Percent Of Surplus To Policy Holders | 10.00%
Day As Of Max Dividends Payable For RCM And RGA Reinsurance | January 1, 2013
RCM Max Dividend Payments Without Approval | $ 169,200,000
RGA Reinsurance Max Dividend Payments Without Approval | $ 164,500,000

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- Definition As of January 1, 2011, RCM and RGA Reinsurance could pay maximum dividends without prior approval. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_DayAsOfMaxDividendsPayableForRcmAndRgaReinsurance
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Restriction as to percent of the Company's surplus to policyholders for future dividend payment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_FutureDividendPaymentRestrictedToSuchPercentOfSurplusToPolicyHolders
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The number of preceeding months used to determine the amount of allowable dividends paid to stockholders. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_NumberOfPreceedingMonthsToAccumulateDividendPaidForApproval
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum dividends RCM could pay without prior approval. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_RcmMaxDividendPaymentsWithoutApproval
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Maximum dividends RGA Reinsurance could pay without prior approval. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_RgaReinsuranceMaxDividendPaymentsWithoutApproval
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | rga_StatutoryBasisAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration