XML 178 R161.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Summary of Investments Other Than Investments in Related Parties (Details) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
--- | ---
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | $ 40,659 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 41,978 | [1]
Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 28,323 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value | 29,643 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 29,643 | [1]
US Treasury and Government [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 1,424 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value | 1,382 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 1,382 | [1]
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 480 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value | 511 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 511 | [1]
Foreign Government Debt [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 4,890 | [2]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value | 6,035 | [2]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 6,035 | [1],[2]
Public Utility, Bonds [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 1,955 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value | 2,023 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 2,023 | [1]
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 3,954 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value | 4,007 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 4,007 | [1]
All Other Corporate Bonds [Member] | Fixed Maturities [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 15,620 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value | 15,685 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 15,685 | [1]
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 86 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value | 88 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 88 | [1]
Other Equity Securities [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 41 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value | 38 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 38 | [1]
Equity Securities [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 127 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value | 126 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 126 | [1]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 3,130 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 3,130 | [1]
Policy Loans [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 1,469 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 1,469 | [1]
Funds Withheld At Interest [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 5,880 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 5,880 | [1]
Short-term Investments [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 558 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | 558 | [1]
Other Invested Assets [Member] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items] |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost | 1,172 |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | $ 1,172 | [1]
[1] | Fixed maturity securities are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value.
[2] | Includes fixed maturities directly issued by foreign governments, supranational and foreign government-sponsored enterprises.

X
- Definition This element represents the carrying (reported) amount of the entity's investments as of the balance sheet date. This amount may represent the individual investment's or group of similar investments' original cost, fair value, or such other amount at which the investment is shown in the entity's balance sheet. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-15) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611379-123010 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the original cost of the entity's investments including investments in equity securities and, as to fixed maturities, original cost reduced by repayments and adjusted for amortization of premiums or accrual of discounts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-15) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611379-123010 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the reported amount of the entity's investments measured at fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an investment in an orderly transaction between market participants at the balance sheet [measurement] date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-15) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611379-123010 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesReportableDataLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | rga_ClassOfSecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_PublicUtilityBondsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_AllOtherCorporateBondsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_NonredeemablePreferredStockMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=rga_OtherEquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_MortgagesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_PolicyLoansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=rga_FundsWithheldAtInterestMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesByTypeAxis=rga_OtherInvestedAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |