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Subsequent Events (Senior Notes Issuances - Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Mar. 05, 2015
Senior notes      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage   5.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
 
Subsequent Event [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Issuance Cost $ 12us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
   
Subsequent Event [Member] | Senior Debt $500 Million March 2025 [Member] | Senior notes      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount     500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= met_SeniorDebt500MillionMarch2025Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Final Maturity Mar. 01, 2025    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage     3.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= met_SeniorDebt500MillionMarch2025Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Subsequent Event [Member] | Senior Debt $1.0 Billion March 2045 [Member] | Senior notes      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount     $ 1,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= met_SeniorDebt1.0BillionMarch2045Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Final Maturity Mar. 01, 2045    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage     4.05%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= met_SeniorDebt1.0BillionMarch2045Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember