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Commitments and Contingent Liabilities Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Maximum Potential Obligation) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitment Period Two Thousand Twenty Three [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	$ 500us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure / us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis = rga_CommitmentPeriodTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
Commitment Period Two Thousand Thirty Three [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	950us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure / us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis = rga_CommitmentPeriodTwoThousandThirtyThreeMember
Commitment Period Two Thousand Thirty Four [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	3,000us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure / us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis = rga_CommitmentPeriodTwoThousandThirtyFourMember
Commitment Period Two Thousand Thirty Five [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	500us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure / us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis = rga_CommitmentPeriodTwoThousandThirtyFiveMember
Commitment Period Two Thousand Thirty Six [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	$ 1,432us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure / us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis = rga_CommitmentPeriodTwoThousandThirtySixMember

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- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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