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Investments (Other Invested Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Investments [Abstract]
Other invested assets	$ 1,198,319us-gaap_OtherInvestments	$ 1,324,960us-gaap_OtherInvestments
Equity Securities [Member]
Other Investments [Abstract]
Other invested assets	126,860us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember	405,731us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Limited Partner [Member]
Other Investments [Abstract]
Other invested assets	446,604us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember	411,456us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember
Secured Debt [Member]
Other Investments [Abstract]
Other invested assets	164,309us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember	223,549us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives [Member]
Other Investments [Abstract]
Other invested assets	216,966us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_DerivativeMember	75,227us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_DerivativeMember
Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member]
Other Investments [Abstract]
Other invested assets	140,344us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = rga_FairValueOptionContractholderDirectedUnitLinkedInvestmentsMember	138,892us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = rga_FairValueOptionContractholderDirectedUnitLinkedInvestmentsMember
Other [Member]
Other Investments [Abstract]
Other invested assets	$ 103,236us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_OtherCreditDerivativesMember	$ 70,105us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_OtherCreditDerivativesMember

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- Definition

Other investments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

+ 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 210.5-02.12)

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



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 12

-Article 5



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph g

-Article 7



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(f,g))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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