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Insurance (Guarantees Related to Annuity Contracts) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Variable Annuity Guarantees | Guaranteed Death Benefits    
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]    
Account value $ 197,400us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
$ 196,595us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Separate account value in event of death 165,322us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeSeparateAccountValueInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
163,566us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeSeparateAccountValueInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Net amount at risk in event of death 3,892us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
4,230us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteedMinimumDeathBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Average attained age of contractholders 65 years 65 years
Variable Annuity Guarantees | Guaranteed Annuitization Benefits    
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]    
Account value 99,960us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
99,000us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Separate account value at annuitization 96,933us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeSeparateAccountValueAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
95,963us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeSeparateAccountValueAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Net amount at risk at annuitization 1,996us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
1,770us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Average attained age of contractholders 66 years 65 years
Two Tier and Other Annuities | Guaranteed Annuitization Benefits    
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]    
Account value 939us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_TwoTierAnnuitiesMember
1,040us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_TwoTierAnnuitiesMember
Net amount at risk at annuitization $ 301us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_TwoTierAnnuitiesMember
$ 340us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskAtAnnuitization
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AnnuitizationBenefitMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_TwoTierAnnuitiesMember
Average attained age of contractholders 50 years 50 years