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Derivative Instruments (Exposure from Credit Derivatives by Rating of the Underlying Credits) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Credit Derivative Current Fair Value $ 9,397us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue [1] $ 8,187us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue [1]
Maximum Potential Future Exposure on Credit Risk Derivatives 870,700us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted [1],[2] 805,700us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted [1],[2]
Derivative Average Remaining Maturity 4 years 11 months [1],[3] 4 years 11 months [1],[3]
Standard Poors AAA To A Minus Ratings [Member] | Single Name Credit Default Swaps [Member]    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Credit Derivative Current Fair Value 1,819us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1] 1,498us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1]
Maximum Potential Future Exposure on Credit Risk Derivatives 182,500us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1],[2] 167,500us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1],[2]
Derivative Average Remaining Maturity 4 years 5 months [1],[3] 4 years 7 months [1],[3]
Standard Poors AAA To A Minus Ratings [Member] | Credit Default Swaps Referencing Indices [Member]    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Credit Derivative Current Fair Value 0us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1] 0us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1]
Maximum Potential Future Exposure on Credit Risk Derivatives 0us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1],[2] 0us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1],[2]
Standard Poors AAA To A Minus Ratings [Member] | Credit Default Subtotal [Member]    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Credit Derivative Current Fair Value 1,819us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1] 1,498us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1]
Maximum Potential Future Exposure on Credit Risk Derivatives 182,500us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1],[2] 167,500us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= rga_StandardPoorsAaaToAminusRatingsMember		 [1],[2]
Derivative Average Remaining Maturity 4 years 5 months [1],[3] 4 years 7 months [1],[3]
Standard Poors BBB Rating [Member] | Single Name Credit Default Swaps [Member]    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Credit Derivative Current Fair Value 232us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1] 168us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1]
Maximum Potential Future Exposure on Credit Risk Derivatives 267,200us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1],[2] 217,200us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1],[2]
Derivative Average Remaining Maturity 4 years 8 months [1],[3] 4 years 11 months [1],[3]
Standard Poors BBB Rating [Member] | Credit Default Swaps Referencing Indices [Member]    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Credit Derivative Current Fair Value 7,518us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1] 6,651us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1]
Maximum Potential Future Exposure on Credit Risk Derivatives 416,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1],[2] 416,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1],[2]
Derivative Average Remaining Maturity 5 years 2 months [1],[3] 5 years [1],[3]
Standard Poors BBB Rating [Member] | Credit Default Subtotal [Member]    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Credit Derivative Current Fair Value 7,750us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1] 6,819us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1]
Maximum Potential Future Exposure on Credit Risk Derivatives 683,200us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1],[2] 633,200us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBBRatingMember		 [1],[2]
Derivative Average Remaining Maturity 5 years [1],[3] 4 years 11 months [1],[3]
Standard & Poor's, BB Rating [Member]    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Derivative Average Remaining Maturity 4 years 2 months [1],[2] 4 years 6 months [1],[2]
Standard & Poor's, BB Rating [Member] | Single Name Credit Default Swaps [Member]    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Credit Derivative Current Fair Value (172)us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1] (130)us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1]
Maximum Potential Future Exposure on Credit Risk Derivatives 5,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1],[2] 5,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapsMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1],[2]
Standard & Poor's, BB Rating [Member] | Credit Default Swaps Referencing Indices [Member]    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Credit Derivative Current Fair Value 0us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1] 0us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1]
Maximum Potential Future Exposure on Credit Risk Derivatives 0us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1],[2] 0us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSwapsReferencingIndicesMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1],[2]
Standard & Poor's, BB Rating [Member] | Credit Default Subtotal [Member]    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Credit Derivative Current Fair Value (172)us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1] (130)us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1]
Maximum Potential Future Exposure on Credit Risk Derivatives $ 5,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1],[2] $ 5,000us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ rga_CreditDefaultTypesAxis
= rga_CreditDefaultSubtotalMember
/ us-gaap_CreditRatingStandardPoorsAxis
= us-gaap_StandardPoorsBBRatingMember		 [1],[2]
[1] The rating agency designations are based on ratings from Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”).
[2] Assumes the value of the referenced credit obligations is zero.
[3] The weighted average years to maturity of the credit default swaps is calculated based on weighted average notional amounts.