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Investments (Credit Quality of Commercial Mortgage Loans) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans $ 41,088us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage $ 40,926us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
% of Total 100.00%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage 100.00%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
Estimated Fair Value 43,179met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage 42,456met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
% of Total 100.00%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage 100.00%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
Less than 65%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 36,139us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 32,007us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
% of Total 88.00%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 78.20%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
Estimated Fair Value 38,166met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 33,519met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
% of Total 88.40%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 78.90%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
65% to 75%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 3,798us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 6,947us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember
% of Total 9.20%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 17.00%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember
Estimated Fair Value 3,873met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 7,039met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember
% of Total 9.00%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 16.60%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember
76% to 80%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 145us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 906us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
% of Total 0.40%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 2.20%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
Estimated Fair Value 153met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 892met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
% of Total 0.30%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 2.10%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
Greater than 80%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 1,006us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 1,066us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember
% of Total 2.40%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 2.60%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember
Estimated Fair Value 987met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 1,006met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember
% of Total 2.30%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 2.40%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember
Greater than 1.20x [Member]    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 37,931us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember		 38,098us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
Greater than 1.20x [Member] | Less than 65%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 33,933us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 30,552us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
Greater than 1.20x [Member] | 65% to 75%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 3,306us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 6,360us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember
Greater than 1.20x [Member] | 76% to 80%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 130us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 525us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
Greater than 1.20x [Member] | Greater than 80%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 562us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 661us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember
1.00x - 1.20x    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 1,791us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember		 1,486us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
1.00x - 1.20x | Less than 65%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 1,105us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 614us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
1.00x - 1.20x | 65% to 75%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 405us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 438us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember
1.00x - 1.20x | 76% to 80%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 0us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 192us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
1.00x - 1.20x | Greater than 80%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 281us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 242us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember
Less than 1.00x [Member]    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 1,366us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember		 1,342us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
Less than 1.00x [Member] | Less than 65%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 1,101us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 841us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
Less than 1.00x [Member] | 65% to 75%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 87us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 149us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember
Less than 1.00x [Member] | 76% to 80%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 15us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 189us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
Less than 1.00x [Member] | Greater than 80%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans $ 163us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 $ 163us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember