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Investments (Past Due and Interest Accrual Status of Mortgage Loans) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Past Due and Interest Accrual Status of Mortgage Loans    
Past Due Status of Mortgage Loans $ 233us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue $ 184us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
Mortgage loans that were in non accrual status 303us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest 279us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest
Commercial    
Past Due and Interest Accrual Status of Mortgage Loans    
Past Due Status of Mortgage Loans 10us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialLoanMember		 10us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialLoanMember
Mortgage loans that were in non accrual status 69us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialLoanMember		 75us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialLoanMember
Agricultural    
Past Due and Interest Accrual Status of Mortgage Loans    
Past Due Status of Mortgage Loans 26us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= met_AgriculturalPortfolioSegmentMember		 1us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= met_AgriculturalPortfolioSegmentMember
Mortgage loans that were in non accrual status 46us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= met_AgriculturalPortfolioSegmentMember		 41us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= met_AgriculturalPortfolioSegmentMember
Residential    
Past Due and Interest Accrual Status of Mortgage Loans    
Past Due Status of Mortgage Loans 197us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember		 173us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
Mortgage loans that were in non accrual status $ 188us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember		 $ 163us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember