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Equity Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                      
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense                 $ 24.4us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 20.3us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 28.5us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Options, Exercises in Period, Total Intrinsic Value                 17.0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 11.3us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 11.2us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value                 $ 26.76us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 18.58us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 19.65us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate                 1.53%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate 1.63%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate 1.27%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate                 2.27%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate 1.36%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate 1.38%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term                 7 years 6 years 9 months 6 years 8 months 15 days
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate                 35.70%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate 35.40%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate 37.20%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
Performance Contingent Units Outstanding                 232,208rga_PerformanceContingentUnitsOutstanding 252,942rga_PerformanceContingentUnitsOutstanding 243,578rga_PerformanceContingentUnitsOutstanding
Performance Contingent Units Maximum Shares of Common Stock Per PCU                 2rga_PerformanceContingentUnitsMaximumSharesOfCommonStockPerPcu    
Performance Contingent Units Measurement Period                 3 years    
Performance Contingent Unit Share Payout                 0.529rga_PerformanceContingentUnitSharePayout 1.513rga_PerformanceContingentUnitSharePayout  
Performance Contingent Units Shares of Common Stock Issued                 103,358rga_PerformanceContingentUnitsSharesOfCommonStockIssued 339,483rga_PerformanceContingentUnitsSharesOfCommonStockIssued  
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized $ 25.4us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized               $ 25.4us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized    
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition                 1 year 9 months    
Equity Based Compensation [Line Items]                      
Earnings Per Share, Basic (in dollars per share) $ 2.78us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 2.30us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 2.87us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 1.94us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 2.05us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 1.95us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ (0.69)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 2.51us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 9.88us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 5.82us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 8.57us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price                 $ 78.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 58.77us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 56.65us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Stock Options [Member]                      
Equity Based Compensation [Line Items]                      
Expiration Period                 10 years    
Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures                 232,782,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Flexible Stock Plan [Member]                      
Equity Based Compensation [Line Items]                      
Number Of Shares Available For Grant 13,360,077us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= rga_FlexibleStockPlanMember
              13,360,077us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= rga_FlexibleStockPlanMember
   
Flexible Stock Plan For Directors [Member]                      
Equity Based Compensation [Line Items]                      
Number Of Shares Available For Grant 212,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= rga_FlexibleStockPlanForDirectorsMember
              212,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= rga_FlexibleStockPlanForDirectorsMember
   
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]                      
Equity Based Compensation [Line Items]                      
Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures                 234,740us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
261,322us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
257,679us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Minimum [Member]                      
Equity Based Compensation [Line Items]                      
Vesting Period                 1 year    
Maximum [Member]                      
Equity Based Compensation [Line Items]                      
Vesting Period                 5 years