XML 148 R133.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Commitments Contingencies and Guarantees (Guarantees Issued) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
--- | --- | ---
Insurance Treaty Guarantee [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value | $ 1,392,352.0 | $ 1,047,449.0
Insurance Treaty Guarantee Net Of Assets Held In Trust [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value | 1,291,445.0 | 926,393.0
Guarantee Of Borrowed Securities [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value | 269,980.0 | 294,325.0
Product Financing Arrangement [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value | 61,273.0 | 86,183.0
Guarantee Of Lease Obligations [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value | 392.0 | $ 1,662.0
Commitment Period Two Thousand Thirty Seven [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted | 6,750.0 |
Commitment Period Two Thousand Thirty Eight [Member] |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted | $ 800.0 |

X
- Definition The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931803&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
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_GuaranteeObligationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931803&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=rga_InsuranceTreatyGuaranteeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=rga_InsuranceTreatyGuaranteeNetOfAssetsHeldInTrustMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=rga_GuaranteeOfBorrowedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=us-gaap_ProductFinancingArrangementMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=rga_GuaranteeOfLeaseObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_CommitmentPeriodAxis=rga_CommitmentPeriodTwoThousandThirtySevenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | rga_CommitmentPeriodAxis=rga_CommitmentPeriodTwoThousandThirtyEightMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |