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Derivative Instruments (Non Hedging Derivatives and Embedded Derivatives Effect on Income Statement) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | $ 7,583 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments | $ 84,571 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
Policy acquisition costs and other insurance expenses | (277,043)rga_PolicyAcquisitionCostsAndOtherInsuranceExpenses | (354,873)rga_PolicyAcquisitionCostsAndOtherInsuranceExpenses
Interest credited | (120,678)us-gaap_InterestCreditedToPolicyholdersAccountBalances | (110,594)us-gaap_InterestCreditedToPolicyholdersAccountBalances
Other revenues | 62,287 us-gaap_OtherIncome | 67,590 us-gaap_OtherIncome
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | (35,854)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 49,517 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest Rate Swaps |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | 29,344 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 29,653 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest Rate Options |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | 3,275 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_InterestRateOptionsMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 1,282 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_InterestRateOptionsMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Financial Futures |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | (7,331)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = us-gaap_FutureMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | (1,584)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = us-gaap_FutureMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Foreign Currency Forwards |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | (220)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 1,154 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Consumer Price Index Swaps |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | (71)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_ConsumerPriceIndexSwapMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 352 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_ConsumerPriceIndexSwapMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Credit Default Swaps |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | 2,658 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | (2,114)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Equity Options |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | (8,067)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = us-gaap_EquityMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | (8,966)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = us-gaap_EquityMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Longevity Swap [Member] |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Other revenues | 1,821 us-gaap_OtherIncome / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_LongevitySwapMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherIncome / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_LongevitySwapMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Mortality Swap [Member] |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Other revenues | (479)us-gaap_OtherIncome / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_MortalitySwapMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherIncome / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_MortalitySwapMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Modified Coinsurance Or Funds Withheld Arrangements |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | (2,325)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInModifiedCoinsuranceOrFundsWithheldArrangementsMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 77,241 us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInModifiedCoinsuranceOrFundsWithheldArrangementsMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Indexed Annuity [Member] |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Interest credited | (29,326)us-gaap_InterestCreditedToPolicyholdersAccountBalances / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInIndexedAnnuityMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | (23,840)us-gaap_InterestCreditedToPolicyholdersAccountBalances / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInIndexedAnnuityMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Embedded Derivatives In Variable Annuity [Member] |  |
Income Affect Of Non Hedging Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Total investment related gains (losses), net | $ (25,133)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInVariableAnnuityMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | $ (23,661)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments / rga_DerivativesNonHedgingInstrumentsAxis = rga_EmbeddedDerivativesInVariableAnnuityMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember

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- Definition Policy Acquisition Costs And Other Insurance Expenses + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents the net total realized and unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling or holding marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, including the unrealized holding gain (loss) of held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category and the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) for available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period. Additionally, this item would include any gains (losses) realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(c),9(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27405-111563 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (c)-(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Interest allocated to policyholders holding contracts under which the insurer must provide a guaranteed yield. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.6) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480726&loc=d3e6691-158385 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 6 -Article 7 + Details
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- Definition Reflects the sum of all other revenue and income recognized by the entity in the period not otherwise specified in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 4 -Article 7 + Details
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