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Investments (Other Invested Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | $ 1,243,033 us-gaap_OtherInvestments | $ 1,198,319 us-gaap_OtherInvestments
Equity securities |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | 134,619 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 126,860 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Limited Partner [Member] |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | 450,842 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember | 446,604 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember
Structured loans |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | 148,377 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember | 164,309 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
Derivatives |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | 265,020 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_DerivativeMember | 216,966 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_DerivativeMember
Fair Value Option Contractholder Directed Unit Linked Investments [Member] |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | 136,597 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = rga_FairValueOptionContractholderDirectedUnitLinkedInvestmentsMember | 140,344 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = rga_FairValueOptionContractholderDirectedUnitLinkedInvestmentsMember
Other |  |
Other Investments [Line Items] |  |
Other invested assets | $ 107,578 us-gaap_OtherInvestments / rga_OtherInvestedAssetsAxis = us-gaap_OtherCreditDerivativesMember | $ 103,236 us-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 + Details
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