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Investments (Mortgage Loans by Credit Quality Indicator) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items] |  |
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances | $ 2,919,616 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate | $ 2,718,709 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total | 100.00%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal | 100.00%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal
High investment grade |  |
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items] |  |
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances | 1,404,166 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_HighInvestmentGradeMember | 1,326,199 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_HighInvestmentGradeMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total | 48.00%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_HighInvestmentGradeMember | 48.80%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_HighInvestmentGradeMember
Investment grade |  |
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items] |  |
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances | 1,377,802 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InvestmentGradeMember | 1,235,046 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InvestmentGradeMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total | 47.20%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InvestmentGradeMember | 45.40%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InvestmentGradeMember
Average |  |
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items] |  |
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances | 98,531 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_AverageMember | 118,152 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_AverageMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total | 3.40%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_AverageMember | 4.40%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_AverageMember
Watch list |  |
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items] |  |
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances | 22,161 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_WatchListMember | 22,285 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_WatchListMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total | 0.80%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_WatchListMember | 0.80%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_WatchListMember
In or near default |  |
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items] |  |
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances | $ 16,956 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InOrNearDefaultMember | $ 17,027 us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InOrNearDefaultMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total | 0.60%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InOrNearDefaultMember | 0.60%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InOrNearDefaultMember

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- Definition The amount represents the total percentage of each property type in comparison to the total of mortgage loans whose balance represents the amount of loans that are secured by real estate mortgages, offset by the reserve to cover probable credit losses on the loan portfolio. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount before allowance of commercial loans issued to businesses to acquire, develop, construct, improve, or refinance land or building. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans covered under loss sharing agreements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5066-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph a -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 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(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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