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Derivative Instruments (Current Period Cash Flow Hedges in AOCI (loss) before Taxes) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward]
Balance beginning	$ (31,591)rga_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossRelatedToCashFlowHedge	$ (4,578)rga_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossRelatedToCashFlowHedge
Gains (losses) deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) on the effective portion of cash flow hedges	213us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss	776us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Balance ending	(30,598)rga_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossRelatedToCashFlowHedge	(4,020)rga_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossRelatedToCashFlowHedge
Forward Contracts [Member]
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward]
Gains (losses) deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) on the effective portion of cash flow hedges	7,780us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward]
Gains (losses) deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) on the effective portion of cash flow hedges	(7,567)us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember	776us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Investment Income [Member]
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	780us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember
Investment Income [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	(60)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember	(218)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember
Investment Related Gains Losses [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member]
AOCI Cash Flow Hedges [Roll Forward]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	$ 840us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember	$ 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember

X

- Definition

Accumulated other comprehensive income related to cash flow hedges.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rga_
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- Details

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- Definition

The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4D

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624177-113959

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X

- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) related to the increase or decrease in fair value of interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments, which was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income to the extent that the cash flow hedge was determined to be effective.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959

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