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Risk management (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Summary quantitative data about entitys exposure to risk [Abstract]
Change in interest rate, Increase	+200 bps	+200 bps	+200 bps
Change in interest rate, Decrease	-200 bps	-200 bps	-200 bps
Effect on income, Increase	$ 18,282	$ 24,603	$ 18,723
Effect on income,Decrease	$ (8,879)	$ (11,382)	$ (3,480)

X

- Definition

The amount of decrease in income due to dncrease the basis points in interest rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	blx_SensitivityAnalysisDecreasedEffectOnIncome
Namespace Prefix:	blx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The reasonably possible decrease in basis points used in sensitivity analysis to determine the relative effect on income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	blx_SensitivityAnalysisDecrepitationOfDecreaseInBasisPoints
Namespace Prefix:	blx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The reasonably possible Increase in basis points used in sensitivity analysis to determine the relative effect on income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	blx_SensitivityAnalysisDecrepitationOfIncreaseInBasisPoints
Namespace Prefix:	blx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of increase in income due to Increase the basis points in interest rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	blx_SensitivityAnalysisIncreasedEffectOnIncome
Namespace Prefix:	blx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	blx_SummaryQuantitativeDataAboutEntitysExposureToRiskAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	blx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration