XML 53 R42.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Investments (Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Fixed Maturity Holdings by Industry Type) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Sep. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | ---
Corporate Securities by Investment Sector And Credit Rating [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | $ 21,418,741 | $ 18,924,711
Estimated Fair Value | $ 22,535,830 | $ 19,619,084
% of Total | 100.00% | 100.00%
Financial Services Sector [Member] |  |
Corporate Securities by Investment Sector And Credit Rating [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | $ 7,797,576 | $ 6,725,199
Estimated Fair Value | $ 8,146,891 | $ 6,888,968
% of Total | 36.20% | 35.20%
Commercial and Industrial Sector [Member] |  |
Corporate Securities by Investment Sector And Credit Rating [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | $ 11,323,024 | $ 10,228,813
Estimated Fair Value | $ 11,914,845 | $ 10,639,613
% of Total | 52.80% | 54.20%
Utility Sector [Member] |  |
Corporate Securities by Investment Sector And Credit Rating [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | $ 2,298,141 | $ 1,970,699
Estimated Fair Value | $ 2,474,094 | $ 2,090,503
% of Total | 11.00% | 10.60%

X
- Definition -- None. No documentation exists for this element. -- + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_CorporateSecuritiesByInvestmentSectorAndCreditRatingLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of available for sale securities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_PercentageOfTotalAvailableForSaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75030427&loc=d3e22054-111558 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27232-111563 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82896770&loc=d3e26610-111562 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesByIndustryAxis=us-gaap_FinancialServicesSectorMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesByIndustryAxis=us-gaap_CommercialAndIndustrialSectorMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesByIndustryAxis=us-gaap_GovernmentSectorMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |