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Derivative Instruments (Cash Flow Hedges) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items] |  |
Gains (losses) deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) on the effective portion of cash flow hedges | $ 213 us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss | $ 776 us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Interest Rate Swaps |  |
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items] |  |
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
Forward Contracts [Member] |  |
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items] |  |
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 |
Investment Related Gains Losses [Member] |  |
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items] |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net | 7 us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember |
Investment Related Gains Losses [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps |  |
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items] |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net | 7 us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember | (6)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember
Investment Related Gains Losses [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member] |  |
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items] |  |
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
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember |
Investment Income [Member] |  |
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items] |  |
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 Swaps |  |
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items] |  |
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

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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 The portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments representing (a) the amount of the hedge ineffectiveness and (b) the amount, if any, excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. + 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 (d) -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 25 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(1),(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6886632&loc=d3e76258-113986 + 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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