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Derivatives (Estimated Fair Value of Derivative Assets and Liabilities after Master Netting Agreements and Cash Collateral) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]    
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Excluding Accruals $ 13,707met_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossAssetExcludingAccruals $ 8,850met_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossAssetExcludingAccruals
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Excluding Accruals 7,082met_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossLiabilityExcludingAccruals 6,549met_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossLiabilityExcludingAccruals
Amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheet, Assets 0us-gaap_DerivativeAssetNotSubjectToMasterNettingArrangement 0us-gaap_DerivativeAssetNotSubjectToMasterNettingArrangement
Amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheet, Liabilities 0us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityNotSubjectToMasterNettingArrangement 0us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityNotSubjectToMasterNettingArrangement
Estimated fair value of derivative assets presented in the consolidated balance sheets 13,707us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral 8,850us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
Estimated fair value of derivative liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheets 7,082us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral 6,549us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
Net amount of derivative assets after application of master netting agreements and cash collateral 324us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral 139us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral
Net amount of derivative liabilities after application of master netting agreements and cash collateral 102us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral 269us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral
Over the Counter [Member]    
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]    
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Excluding Accruals 12,256met_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossAssetExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
8,537met_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossAssetExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Excluding Accruals 6,017met_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossLiabilityExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
6,367met_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossLiabilityExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Gross estimated fair value of derivative assets (4,082)us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
(4,631)us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Gross estimated fair value of derivative liabilities (4,082)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
(4,631)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Cash collateral on derivative assets (4,153)us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
(1,679)us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Cash collateral on derivative liabilities (133)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
(3)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Securities collateral on derivative assets (3,768)met_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
(2,105)met_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Securities collateral on derivative liabilities (1,700)met_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
(1,464)met_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= met_OverCounterMember
Exchange Traded [Member]    
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]    
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Excluding Accruals 71met_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossAssetExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
11met_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossAssetExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Excluding Accruals 11met_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossLiabilityExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
53met_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossLiabilityExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Gross estimated fair value of derivative assets (5)us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
(5)us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Gross estimated fair value of derivative liabilities (5)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
(5)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Cash collateral on derivative assets 0us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
0us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Cash collateral on derivative liabilities (4)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
(44)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Securities collateral on derivative assets 0met_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
0met_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Securities collateral on derivative liabilities (2)met_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
(4)met_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
Cleared [Member]    
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]    
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Excluding Accruals 1,380met_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossAssetExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
302met_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossAssetExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Excluding Accruals 1,054met_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossLiabilityExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
129met_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossLiabilityExcludingAccruals
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
Gross estimated fair value of derivative assets (989)us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
(122)us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
Gross estimated fair value of derivative liabilities (989)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
(122)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
Cash collateral on derivative assets (386)us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
(169)us-gaap_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
Cash collateral on derivative liabilities (62)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
(7)us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
Securities collateral on derivative assets 0met_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
0met_DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
Securities collateral on derivative liabilities $ (3)met_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember
$ 0met_DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimSecuritiesOffset
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeClearedMember