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Investments (Mortgage Loans by Maturity Date) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances	$ 2,919,616us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate	$ 2,718,709us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	100.00%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal	100.00%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal
Due within five years
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances	923,234us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueOneYearThroughFiveYearsMember	860,362us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueOneYearThroughFiveYearsMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	31.60%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueOneYearThroughFiveYearsMember	31.60%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueOneYearThroughFiveYearsMember
Due after five years through ten years
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances	1,263,984us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueAfterFiveYearsMember	1,165,530us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueAfterFiveYearsMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	43.30%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueAfterFiveYearsMember	42.90%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueAfterFiveYearsMember
Due after ten years
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances	$ 732,398us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueAfterTenYearsMember	$ 692,817us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueAfterTenYearsMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	25.10%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueAfterTenYearsMember	25.50%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_MortgageLoanMaturityAxis = rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDueAfterTenYearsMember

X

- 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.

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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

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