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Derivative Instruments (Cash Flow Hedges) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items]
Gains (losses) deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) on the effective portion of cash flow hedges	$ 213us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss	$ 776us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Interest Rate Swaps
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items]
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
Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items]
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
Investment Related Gains Losses [Member]
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net	7us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember
Investment Related Gains Losses [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net	7us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember	(6)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember
Investment Related Gains Losses [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	(840)us-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
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net	0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = rga_InvestmentRelatedGainsLossesMember
Investment Income [Member]
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	(780)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember
Investment Income [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	$ 60us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember	$ 218us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember

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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



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-Publisher FASB

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

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The portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments representing (a) the amount of the hedge ineffectiveness and (b) the amount, if any, excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ 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 (d)

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



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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 25

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6886632&loc=d3e76258-113986

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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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