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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Balance of and Changes in Each Component of AOCI) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Line Items]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	$ 391,626us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax		$ 424,772us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	(157,639)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax		(147,536)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
Net income	125,114us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss		136,664us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Balance, Beginning of Period	1,657,129us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax		1,005,607us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	184,125us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments		199,440us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Balance, End of Period	1,884,236us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax		1,279,499us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(59,011)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit		(62,776)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	233,987us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax		277,236us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Line Items]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, before Tax	(103,285)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember		(45,428)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax	(14,486)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember		2,745us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Net income	0us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember		0us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Balance, Beginning of Period	81,847us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember		207,083us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember		0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Balance, End of Period	(35,924)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember		164,400us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember		0us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(117,771)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember		(42,683)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Line Items]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, before Reclassification Adjustments and Tax	494,294us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]	469,975us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities, before Reclassification Adjustments, Tax	(142,978)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]	(150,217)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]
Net income	(7,392)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]	(3,924)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]
Balance, Beginning of Period	1,624,773us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]	820,245us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(8,252)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]	(5,828)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]
Balance, End of Period	1,968,697us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]	1,136,079us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	860us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]	1,904us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	351,316us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]	319,758us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember	[1]
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Line Items]
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, before Tax	617us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBeforeTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember		225us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBeforeTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax	(175)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember		(64)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Net income	512us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember		580us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Balance, Beginning of Period	(49,491)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember		(21,721)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	787us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember		892us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Balance, End of Period	(48,537)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember		(20,980)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	275us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember		312us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	442us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember		161us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Amounts Reclassified From AOCI [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Line Items]
Net income	(6,880)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = rga_AmountsReclassifiedFromAociMember		(3,344)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = rga_AmountsReclassifiedFromAociMember
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(7,465)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = rga_AmountsReclassifiedFromAociMember		(4,936)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = rga_AmountsReclassifiedFromAociMember
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ (585)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = rga_AmountsReclassifiedFromAociMember		$ (1,592)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = rga_AmountsReclassifiedFromAociMember
[1] Includes cash flow hedges. See Note 5 - “Derivative Instruments” for additional information on cash flow hedges.

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No definition available.

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Amount of tax (expense) benefit of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to pension and other postretirement defined benefit plans.

+ References

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Amount of tax expense (benefit) allocated to other comprehensive income (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 31

-Article 5



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18498875&loc=d3e39076-109324



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e640-108580

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