XML 60 R47.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Investments (Investment Income Net of Related Expenses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2017
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net of Expenses [Line Items] |  |
Investment revenue | $ 538,382 | $ 533,034
Investment expense | (22,053) | (18,670)
Investment income, net of related expenses | 516,329 | 514,364
Available-for-sale Securities [Member] |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net of Expenses [Line Items] |  |
Investment revenue | 369,203 | 324,500
Equity Securities [Member] |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net of Expenses [Line Items] |  |
Investment revenue | 1,682 | 1,359
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Member] |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net of Expenses [Line Items] |  |
Investment revenue | 50,199 | 44,347
Policy loans |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net of Expenses [Line Items] |  |
Investment revenue | 14,780 | 15,272
Funds withheld at interest |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net of Expenses [Line Items] |  |
Investment revenue | 75,445 | 127,578
Short-term Investments [Member] |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net of Expenses [Line Items] |  |
Investment revenue | 3,245 | 1,510
Other invested assets |  |
Major Categories Of Investment Income Net of Expenses [Line Items] |  |
Investment revenue | $ 23,828 | $ 18,468

X
- Definition This item represents investment income derived from investments in debt and equity securities consisting of interest income earned from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents, dividend income from investments in equity securities, and income or expense derived from the amortization of investment related discounts or premiums, respectively. This item does not include realized or unrealized gains or losses on the sale or holding of investments in debt and equity securities required to be included in earnings for the period or for other than temporary losses related to investments in debt and equity securities which are included in realized losses in the period recognized, and does not include investment income from real or personal property, such as rental income. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_InvestmentRevenue
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_MajorCategoriesOfInvestmentIncomeNetOfExpensesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of expenses related to the generation of investment income. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInvestmentExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, after investment expense, of income earned from investments in securities and real estate. Includes, but is not limited to, real estate investment, policy loans, dividends, and interest. Excludes realized gain (loss) on investments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-16(Column G)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574960-122915 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetInvestmentIncome
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | rga_MajorCategoriesOfInvestmentsAxis=us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

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

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

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

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

X
- Details
Name: | rga_MajorCategoriesOfInvestmentsAxis=us-gaap_OtherAggregatedInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |