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Derivative Instruments (Current Period Cash Flow Hedges in AOCI (loss) before Taxes) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance beginning | $ (31,591)rga_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossRelatedToCashFlowHedge | $ (4,578)rga_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossRelatedToCashFlowHedge
Gains (losses) deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) on the effective portion of cash flow hedges | 213 us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss | 776 us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Balance ending | (30,598)rga_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossRelatedToCashFlowHedge | (4,020)rga_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossRelatedToCashFlowHedge
Forward Contracts [Member] |  |
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward] |  |
Gains (losses) deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) on the effective portion of cash flow hedges | 7,780 us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember |
Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward] |  |
Gains (losses) deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) on the effective portion of cash flow hedges | (7,567)us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember | 776 us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Investment Income [Member] |  |
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward] |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net | 780 us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember |
Investment Income [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward] |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net | (60)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember | (218)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember
Investment Related Gains Losses [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member] |  |
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward] |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net | $ 840 us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember | $ 0 us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember

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- Definition Accumulated other comprehensive income related to cash flow hedges. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4D -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624177-113959 + Details
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- Definition Amount of unrealized gain (loss) related to the increase or decrease in fair value of interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments, which was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income to the extent that the cash flow hedge was determined to be effective. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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