Employee Benefit Plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

12. Employee Benefit Plans

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

Certain subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. (the “Subsidiaries”) sponsor and/or administer various U.S. qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement employee benefit plans covering employees and sales representatives who meet specified eligibility requirements. The Subsidiaries also provide certain postemployment benefits and certain postretirement medical and life insurance benefits for retired employees.

The components of net periodic benefit costs were as follows:

	Three Months   Ended   June 30,
	2014												2013
	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits						Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
	(In millions)
Service costs	$	50		$	14		$	4		$	1		$	59		$	17		$	5		$	1
Interest costs	109			4			23			—			97			3			23			—
Expected return on plan assets	(118		)	(2		)	(18		)	(1		)	(121		)	(1		)	(19		)	—
Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses	44			—			3			—			57			—			13			—
Amortization of prior service costs (credit)	—			—			(1		)	—			—			—			(18		)	—
Net periodic benefit costs	$	85		$	16		$	11		$	—		$	92		$	19		$	4		$	1

	Six Months   Ended   June 30,
	2014												2013
	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits						Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
	(In millions)
Service costs	$	100		$	34		$	7		$	1		$	118		$	34		$	10		$	1
Interest costs	218			7			46			1			194			7			46			1
Expected return on plan assets	(237		)	(4		)	(37		)	(1		)	(242		)	(3		)	(38		)	—
Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses	85			—			6			—			114			—			27			—
Amortization of prior service costs (credit)	1			—			(1		)	—			3			—			(37		)	—
Net periodic benefit costs	$	167		$	37		$	21		$	1		$	187		$	38		$	8		$	2