Long-term and Short-term Debt (Commited Facilities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Committed Credit Facility Total [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Committed Credit Facility One [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Committed Credit Facility Two [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Committed Credit Facility Three [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Committed Credit Facility Four [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Committed Credit Facility Five [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Committed Credit Facility Six [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Committed Credit Facility Seven [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowers				MetLife, Inc.	Exeter Reassurance Company, Ltd., MetLife, Inc. & Missouri Reinsurance, Inc.	MetLife Reinsurance Company of Vermont & MetLife, Inc.	Exeter Reassurance Company, Ltd.	MetLife Reinsurance Company of South Carolina & MetLife, Inc.	MetLife Reinsurance Company of Vermont & MetLife, Inc.	MetLife Reinsurance Company of Vermont & MetLife, Inc.
Expiration				Aug. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2027	Jun. 30, 2037	Dec. 31, 2037	Sep. 30, 2038
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 12,446	$ 300	$ 500	$ 350	$ 650	$ 3,500	$ 2,896	$ 4,250
Letter of Credit Issuances			6,739	300	490	350	600	0	1,937	3,062
Collateral financing arrangements	4,196	4,196	2,797	0	0	0	0	2,797	0	0
Unused Commitments			$ 2,910	$ 0	$ 10	$ 0	$ 50	$ 703	$ 959	$ 1,188