XML 96 R59.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Investments (Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Fixed Maturity Holdings by Industry Type) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
--- | --- | ---
Corporate Secturities by Investment Sector And Credit Rating [Line Items] |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis | $ 11,697,394 | $ 11,333,431
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure | 12,110,755 | 12,380,071
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities | 100.00% | 100.00%
Finance Industry [Member] |  |
Corporate Secturities by Investment Sector And Credit Rating [Line Items] |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis | 3,838,716 | 3,619,455
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure | 3,983,623 | 3,900,152
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities | 32.90% | 31.50%
Industrial [Member] |  |
Corporate Secturities by Investment Sector And Credit Rating [Line Items] |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis | 5,943,353 | 5,881,967
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure | 6,138,150 | 6,443,846
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities | 50.70% | 52.00%
Utility Industry [Member] |  |
Corporate Secturities by Investment Sector And Credit Rating [Line Items] |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis | 1,904,100 | 1,799,658
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure | 1,978,218 | 2,002,611
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities | 16.30% | 16.20%
Other Industry [Member] |  |
Corporate Secturities by Investment Sector And Credit Rating [Line Items] |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis | 11,225 | 32,351
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure | $ 10,764 | $ 33,462
Percentage Of Total Available For Sales Securities | 0.10% | 0.30%

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

X
- Definition Percentage of available for sale securities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_PercentageOfTotalAvailableForSalesSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28360136&loc=d3e22054-111558 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant