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Segment Information (Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 44,679,611us-gaap_Assets	$ 39,674,473us-gaap_Assets
US Traditional Segment Reporting Information [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	14,159,824us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = rga_USTraditionalSegmentReportingInformationMember	13,285,423us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = rga_USTraditionalSegmentReportingInformationMember
US Non-Traditional Segment Reporting Information [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	11,572,251us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = rga_USNonTraditionalSegmentReportingInformationMember	11,716,908us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = rga_USNonTraditionalSegmentReportingInformationMember
CANADA
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	3,996,128us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_CA	4,103,730us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = country_CA
Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	4,693,322us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_EuropeMember	2,230,568us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_EuropeMember
Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	3,619,368us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AsiaPacificMember	3,597,456us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_AsiaPacificMember
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 6,638,718us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateMember	$ 4,740,388us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateMember

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 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 18

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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