XML 146 R129.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Financial Condition and Net Income on a Statutory Basis - Significant Subsidiaries (Statutory Accounting Practices Disclosure) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
RGA Reinsurance [Member] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance |  | $ 1,521,644 | $ 1,503,402 |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount |  | 148,576 | (23,615) | $ 17,085
RCM [Member] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance |  | 1,651,274 | 1,598,328 |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount |  | 272,038 | 51,041 | 126,326
RGA Canada [Member] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance |  | 915,134 | 874,151 |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount |  | 13,947 | 113,526 | 225,083
RGA Barbados [Member] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance | [1] | 957,051 | 835,126 |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount | [1] | 95,859 | 113,049 | 66,097
RGA Australia [Member] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance |  | 370,039 | 335,631 |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount |  | (7,694) | (18,128) | 874
RGA Atlantic [Member] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance |  | 596,016 | 554,417 |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount |  | 110,172 | 132,192 | 113,055
RGA Americas [Member] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance | [1] | 3,416,512 | 3,135,177 |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount | [1] | 267,876 | 260,599 | 258,588
Other Reinsurance Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance |  | 2,224,833 | 2,136,480 |
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount |  | $ 130,289 | $ 300,847 | $ (647,259)
[1] | In 2016, the Company contributed to RGA Reinsurance Company (Barbados) Ltd. all of the outstanding shares of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, RGA Global Reinsurance Company, Ltd., and Manor Reinsurance, Ltd. In 2016, the Company also contributed to RGA Americas Reinsurance Company, Ltd. all of the outstanding shares of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, RGA International Reinsurance Company dac and Leidsche Leven Holding B.V. Periods prior to 2016 have been adjusted to reflect the contributions.

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_StatutoryAccountingPracticesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of statutory capital and surplus (stockholders' equity) as of the balance sheet date using prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices (rather than GAAP, if different) of the state or country. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(23)(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24708-158529 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryCapitalAndSurplusBalance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of net income for the period determined using accounting principles prescribed or permitted by insurance regulators. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(23)(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryNetIncomeAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesByJurisdictionAxis=rga_RgaReinsuranceMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesByJurisdictionAxis=rga_RcmMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesByJurisdictionAxis=rga_RgaCanadaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesByJurisdictionAxis=rga_RgaBarbadosMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesByJurisdictionAxis=rga_RgaAustraliaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesByJurisdictionAxis=rga_RgaAtlanticMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesByJurisdictionAxis=rga_RgaAmericasMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesByJurisdictionAxis=rga_OtherReinsuranceSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |