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Investments (Credit Quality of Commercial Mortgage Loans) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans $ 42,164us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage $ 41,088us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
% of Total 100.00%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage 100.00%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
Estimated Fair Value 44,090met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage 43,179met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
% of Total 100.00%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage 100.00%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
Less than 65%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 37,004us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 36,139us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
% of Total 87.80%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 88.00%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
Estimated Fair Value 38,884met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 38,166met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
% of Total 88.20%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 88.40%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember
65% to 75%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 4,035us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 3,798us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember
% of Total 9.60%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 9.20%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember
Estimated Fair Value 4,088met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 3,873met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember
% of Total 9.30%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 9.00%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		 145us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
% of Total 0.30%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 0.40%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
Estimated Fair Value 154met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 153met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
% of Total 0.30%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 0.30%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember
Greater than 80%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 980us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 1,006us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember
% of Total 2.30%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 2.40%met_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember
Estimated Fair Value 964met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 987met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember
% of Total 2.20%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 2.30%met_EstimatedFairValueCommercialMortgagePercentage
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember
Greater than 1.20x [Member]    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 39,362us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember		 37,931us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
Greater than 1.20x [Member] | Less than 65%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 35,250us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 33,933us-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 3,398us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 3,306us-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 137us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 130us-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 577us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeOneMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 562us-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 1,825us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember		 1,791us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
1.00x - 1.20x | Less than 65%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 953us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 1,105us-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 573us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 405us-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		 0us-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 299us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeTwoMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 281us-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 977us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember		 1,366us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
Less than 1.00x [Member] | Less than 65%    
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]    
Commercial mortgage loans 801us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeOneMember		 1,101us-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 64us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeTwoMember		 87us-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 8us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeThreeMember		 15us-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 $ 104us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember		 $ 163us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialMortgage
/ met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioByRangeAxis
= met_DebtServiceCoverageRatioRangeThreeMember
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= met_MortgageLoansByCreditQualityIndicatorRangeFourMember