Segment Reporting - Income From Real Estate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Revenues
Revenues	$ 448,553	$ 383,622	$ 1,328,921	$ 1,076,457
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	144,771	132,181	444,728	362,654
Operating property expenses	26,570	9,357	74,738	15,335
General and administrative	23,258	22,299	74,494	66,224
Reimbursable tenant costs	20,498	18,874	62,997	52,538
Impairment charges — real estate	15,173	0	15,173	26,385
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	13,021	11,244	31,164	36,874
Stock-based compensation expense	9,050	5,511	25,811	23,102
Merger and other expenses	4,152	17,667	5,595	17,329
Total operating expenses	256,590	246,811	735,022	632,189
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	(76,974)	(59,022)	(219,658)	(151,492)
Earnings from equity method investments in real estate	4,978	11,304	14,569	23,477
Non-operating income	4,862	9,263	13,997	23,783
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate, net	2,401	(4,736)	181,958	37,631
Other gains and (losses)	2,859	(15,020)	9,593	(1,021)
Gain on change in control of interests	0	33,931	0	33,931
Total other income and expenses	(61,874)	(24,280)	459	(33,691)
Income before income taxes	130,089	112,531	594,358	410,577
Provision for income taxes	(5,090)	(8,263)	(30,338)	(21,598)
Net Income	124,999	104,268	564,020	388,979
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	41	660	20	622
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	125,040	104,928	564,040	389,601
Real Estate
Revenues
Income from finance leases and loans receivable	27,575	20,637	75,641	56,794
Operating property revenues	49,218	21,350	140,780	30,279
Other lease-related income	2,310	8,192	20,723	24,905
Revenues	448,262	382,081	1,327,763	1,065,959
Real Estate | Operating Segments
Revenues
Lease revenues	369,159	331,902	1,090,619	953,981
Income from finance leases and loans receivable	27,575	20,637	75,641	56,794
Operating property revenues	49,218	21,350	140,780	30,279
Other lease-related income	2,310	8,192	20,723	24,905
Revenues	448,262	382,081	1,327,763	1,065,959
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	144,771	132,181	444,728	362,654
Operating property expenses	26,570	9,357	74,738	15,335
General and administrative	23,258	22,299	74,494	66,224
Reimbursable tenant costs	20,498	18,874	62,997	52,538
Impairment charges — real estate	15,173	0	15,173	26,385
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	13,021	11,244	31,164	36,874
Stock-based compensation expense	9,050	5,511	25,811	23,102
Merger and other expenses	4,152	17,667	5,595	17,326
Total operating expenses	256,493	217,133	734,700	600,438
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	(76,974)	(59,022)	(219,658)	(151,492)
Earnings from equity method investments in real estate	4,978	6,447	14,569	10,189
Non-operating income	4,862	9,264	13,984	23,781
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate, net	2,401	(4,736)	181,958	37,631
Other gains and (losses)	2,180	(13,960)	8,876	303
Gain on change in control of interests	0	11,405	0	11,405
Total other income and expenses	(62,553)	(50,602)	(271)	(68,183)
Income before income taxes	129,216	114,346	592,792	397,338
Provision for income taxes	(5,090)	(3,631)	(30,728)	(16,499)
Net Income	124,126	110,715	562,064	380,839
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	41	660	20	622
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 124,167	$ 111,375	$ 562,084	$ 381,461