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Investments (Exposure To Concentrations Of Credit Risk) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis | $ 14,084,589 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost | $ 14,010,604 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Available-for-sale Securities | 15,179,135 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities | 14,885,583 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Canadian Province Of Quebec Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis | 934,860 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis = rga_CanadianProvinceOfQuebecSecuritiesMember | 1,006,315 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis = rga_CanadianProvinceOfQuebecSecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale Securities | 1,628,425 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis = rga_CanadianProvinceOfQuebecSecuritiesMember | 1,599,673 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis = rga_CanadianProvinceOfQuebecSecuritiesMember
Canadian Province Of Ontario Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis | 901,634 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis = rga_CanadianProvinceOfOntarioSecuritiesMember | 979,908 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis = rga_CanadianProvinceOfOntarioSecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale Securities | $ 1,351,722 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis = rga_CanadianProvinceOfOntarioSecuritiesMember | $ 1,359,339 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / rga_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAxis = rga_CanadianProvinceOfOntarioSecuritiesMember

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- Definition Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28360136&loc=d3e22054-111558 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562 + Details
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- Definition This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any. + 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 210.5-02.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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