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Document and Entity Information
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Apr. 30, 2015
Document And Entitiy Information [Abstract]    
Document Type 10-Q  
Document period end date Mar. 31, 2015  
Amendment flag false  
Entity registrant name REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA INC  
Entity central index key 0000898174  
Entity current reporting status Yes  
Entity voluntary filers No  
Current fiscal year end date --12-31  
Entity filer category Large Accelerated Filer  
Entity well-known seasoned issuer Yes  
Common Shares Outstanding   66,196,280dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2015  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q1