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Long-term and Short-term Debt (Long-term and Short-term Outstanding) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Capital lease obligations $ 7us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations $ 28us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
Long-term debt 16,135met_LongTermDebtExcludingConsolidatedSecuritizationEntities 17,198met_LongTermDebtExcludingConsolidatedSecuritizationEntities
Short-term debt 100us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings 175us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings
Total 16,235us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations 17,373us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Senior notes    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest Rate Range Minimum 1.76%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMinimum
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
 
Interest Rate Range Maximum 7.72%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMaximum
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate 5.23%us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
 
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start Jun. 15, 2015  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End Dec. 15, 2044  
Long-term Debt 15,317us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
15,938us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Surplus notes    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest Rate Range Minimum 7.63%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMinimum
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= met_SurplusNotesMember
 
Interest Rate Range Maximum 7.88%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMaximum
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= met_SurplusNotesMember
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate 7.83%us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= met_SurplusNotesMember
 
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start Nov. 01, 2015  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End Nov. 01, 2025  
Long-term Debt 701us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= met_SurplusNotesMember
701us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= met_SurplusNotesMember
Other notes    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest Rate Range Minimum 1.34%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMinimum
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= met_OtherNotesMember
 
Interest Rate Range Maximum 8.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMaximum
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= met_OtherNotesMember
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate 4.41%us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= met_OtherNotesMember
 
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start Sep. 12, 2015  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End Nov. 30, 2030  
Long-term Debt $ 110us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= met_OtherNotesMember
$ 531us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= met_OtherNotesMember