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Investments (Investment Related Gains (Losses) Net) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2020 | Mar. 31, 2019
Investments [Abstract] |  |
Available-for-sale Securities, Realized Losses, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments | $ (8) | $ (19)
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Equity Investments | (23) | 4
Investment Gains And Losses [Abstract] |  |
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net | 34 | 9
Gain on investment activity | 27 | 28
Other impairment losses and change in mortgage loan provision | (13) | (2)
Derivatives and other, net | (234) | 6
Total investment related gains (losses), net | $ (285) | $ 8

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- Definition Net realized gains or losses on investments during the period related to the change in value of embedded derivatives and other realized gains and losses not otherwise categorized. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_DerivativesAndOtherInvestmentsNet
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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

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- Definition Other impairment losses and change in mortgage loan provision. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rga_OtherImpairmentLossesAndChangeInMortgageLoanProvision
Namespace Prefix: | rga_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of loss realized on the sale of debt or equity securities classified as available-for-sale. Excludes other than temporary impairments (OTTI). + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of equity securities, not separately or otherwise categorized as trading or available-for-sale. This element includes investments in which the entity holds a small ownership stake (generally, less than 20% of the shares outstanding) and cannot exert significant influence. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfEquityInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
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- Definition The amount of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses on equity securities, OTTI related to credit losses on debt securities, and OTTI losses on debt securities when the entity intends to sell the securities or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Additionally, this item includes OTTI losses recognized during the period on investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The net realized gains or losses on investments during the period, not including gains or losses on securities separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 220 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.3(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116637232&loc=SL114874131-224263 + Details
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