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Insurance (Guarantees Related to Universal and Variable Life Contracts) (Details) (Universal And Variable Life Contracts, USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Secondary Guarantees
   
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]    
Account value (general and separate account) $ 17,072met_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAndSeparateAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= met_SecondaryGuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_UniversalAndVariableLifeContractsMember
$ 16,875met_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAndSeparateAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= met_SecondaryGuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_UniversalAndVariableLifeContractsMember
Net amount at risk 178,870us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= met_SecondaryGuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_UniversalAndVariableLifeContractsMember
180,069us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= met_SecondaryGuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_UniversalAndVariableLifeContractsMember
Average attained age of policyholders 56 years 56 years
Paid-Up Guarantees
   
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]    
Account value (general and separate account) 3,556met_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAndSeparateAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= met_PaidUpGuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_UniversalAndVariableLifeContractsMember
3,587met_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGeneralAndSeparateAccountValue
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= met_PaidUpGuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_UniversalAndVariableLifeContractsMember
Net amount at risk $ 19,980us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= met_PaidUpGuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_UniversalAndVariableLifeContractsMember
$ 20,344us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeNetAmountAtRiskInEventOfDeath
/ us-gaap_NetAmountAtRiskByProductAndGuaranteeGuaranteeTypeAxis
= met_PaidUpGuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis
= met_UniversalAndVariableLifeContractsMember
Average attained age of policyholders 61 years 61 years