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Income Tax (Tax Credit Carryforwards) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards $ 1,733us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount $ 1,653us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 923us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
 
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | 2015-2019    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsFirstFourYearsMember
 
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | 2020-2024    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 923us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsSecondFourYearsMember
 
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | 2025-2029    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsThirdFourYearsMember
 
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | 2030-2034    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsFourthFourYearsMember
 
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Indefinite    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsIndefiniteNumberOfYearsMember
 
General business credit member    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 867us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralBusinessMember
 
General business credit member | 2015-2019    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralBusinessMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsFirstFourYearsMember
 
General business credit member | 2020-2024    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralBusinessMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsSecondFourYearsMember
 
General business credit member | 2025-2029    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 4us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralBusinessMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsThirdFourYearsMember
 
General business credit member | 2030-2034    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 863us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralBusinessMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsFourthFourYearsMember
 
General business credit member | Indefinite    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralBusinessMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsIndefiniteNumberOfYearsMember
 
Other tax credit member    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 176us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= met_OtherTaxCreditCarryforwardMember
 
Other tax credit member | 2015-2019    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= met_OtherTaxCreditCarryforwardMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsFirstFourYearsMember
 
Other tax credit member | 2020-2024    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= met_OtherTaxCreditCarryforwardMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsSecondFourYearsMember
 
Other tax credit member | 2025-2029    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= met_OtherTaxCreditCarryforwardMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsThirdFourYearsMember
 
Other tax credit member | 2030-2034    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards 0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= met_OtherTaxCreditCarryforwardMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsFourthFourYearsMember
 
Other tax credit member | Indefinite    
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforwards $ 176us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= met_OtherTaxCreditCarryforwardMember
/ met_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= met_ExpirationPeriodForTaxCreditCarryforwardsIndefiniteNumberOfYearsMember