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Insurance (Guarantees Related to Annuity Contracts) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Variable Annuity Guarantees | Guaranteed Death Benefits [Member]    
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]    
Account value $ 196,595us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
$ 201,395us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Separate account value in event of death 163,566us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeSeparateAccountValueInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
164,500us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeSeparateAccountValueInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Net amount at risk in event of death 4,230us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
4,203us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Average attained age of contractholders 65 years 63 years
Variable Annuity Guarantees | Guaranteed Annuitization Benefits [Member]    
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]    
Account value 99,000us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
100,527us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Separate account value at annuitization 95,963us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeSeparateAccountValueAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
96,459us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeSeparateAccountValueAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Net amount at risk at annuitization 1,770us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
1,219us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Average attained age of contractholders 65 years 63 years
Two Tier and Other Annuities | Guaranteed Annuitization Benefits [Member]    
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]    
Account value 1,040us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_TwoTierAnnuitiesMember
880us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_TwoTierAnnuitiesMember
Net amount at risk at annuitization $ 340us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_TwoTierAnnuitiesMember
$ 234us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_TwoTierAnnuitiesMember
Average attained age of contractholders 50 years 50 years