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Investments (Mortgage Loans by Credit Quality Indicator) (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
High investment grade
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances	1,404,166us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_HighInvestmentGradeMember	1,326,199us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_HighInvestmentGradeMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	48.00%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_HighInvestmentGradeMember	48.80%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_HighInvestmentGradeMember
Investment grade
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances	1,377,802us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InvestmentGradeMember	1,235,046us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InvestmentGradeMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	47.20%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InvestmentGradeMember	45.40%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InvestmentGradeMember
Average
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances	98,531us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_AverageMember	118,152us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_AverageMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	3.40%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_AverageMember	4.40%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_AverageMember
Watch list
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances	22,161us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_WatchListMember	22,285us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_WatchListMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	0.80%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_WatchListMember	0.80%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_WatchListMember
In or near default
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, gross of valuation allowances	$ 16,956us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InOrNearDefaultMember	$ 17,027us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InOrNearDefaultMember
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net Percentage Of Total	0.60%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InOrNearDefaultMember	0.60%rga_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNetPercentageOfTotal / rga_CreditQualityIndicatorsAxis = rga_InOrNearDefaultMember

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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