Investments (Mortgage Loans by Portfolio Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans, Gross	$ 82,408	$ 79,860
Allowance for Credit Loss	(486)	(634)	$ (570)	$ (590)
Subtotal mortgage loans, net	81,922	79,226
Total mortgage loans held-for-investment, net	82,031	79,353
Mortgage loans held-for-sale	24	0
Mortgage loans (net of allowance for credit loss of $486 and $634, respectively; includes $109 and $127, respectively, under the fair value option and $24 and $0, respectively, of mortgage loans held-for-sale)	$ 82,055	$ 79,353
Percentage Of mortgage total recorded investment To Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net	100.40%	100.60%
Percentage of Allowance for Credit Losses for Financing Receivables	(0.60%)	(0.80%)
Percentage Of Mortgage Loans Held For Investment Net To Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net	99.80%	99.80%
Percentage Of Loans And Leases Receivable Consumer Other To Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net	0.20%	0.20%
Percentage of total mortgage loans held-for-investments	100.00%	100.00%
Percentage of mortgage loans held-for-sale	0.00%	0.00%
Percentage Of Mortgage Loans On Real Estate To Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net	100.00%	100.00%
Residential mortgage loans - FVO
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total mortgage loans held-for-investment, net	$ 109	$ 127
Mortgage loans (net of allowance for credit loss of $486 and $634, respectively; includes $109 and $127, respectively, under the fair value option and $24 and $0, respectively, of mortgage loans held-for-sale)	109	127
Commercial Mortgage Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans, Gross	52,348	50,553
Allowance for Credit Loss	$ (205)	$ (340)	(274)	(252)
Percentage Of Mortgage Loans, Gross	63.80%	63.70%
Residential Mortgage Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans, Gross	$ 11,497	$ 11,196
Allowance for Credit Loss	$ (174)	$ (206)	(210)	(232)
Percentage Of Mortgage Loans, Gross	14.00%	14.10%
Agricultural Mortgage Loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans, Gross	$ 18,563	$ 18,111
Allowance for Credit Loss	$ (107)	$ (88)	$ (86)	$ (106)
Percentage Of Mortgage Loans, Gross	22.60%	22.80%

Percentage Of Financing Receivable, Gross

No definition available.

Name:	met_PercentageOfFinancingReceivableGross
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of loans and leases receivable consumer other to total mortgage loans on real estate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_PercentageOfLoansAndLeasesReceivableConsumerOtherToMortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNet
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of Mortgage Loans Held-for-investment, net to total Mortgage Loans on Real Estate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_PercentageOfMortgageLoansHeldForInvestmentNetToMortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNet
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of Mortgage Loans Held For Investment to total Mortgage Loans on Real Estate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_PercentageOfMortgageLoansHeldForInvestmentToMortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNet
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of mortgage loans held-for-sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_PercentageOfMortgageLoansHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of Mortgage Loans On Real Estate to total Mortgage Loans on Real Estate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_PercentageOfMortgageLoansOnRealEstateToMortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNet
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of total mortgage loans held-for-investments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_PercentageOfTotalMortgageLoansHeldForInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage Of Allowance for Credit Losses for Financing Receivables

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_PercentageofAllowanceforCreditLossesforFinancingReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of allowance for credit loss on financing receivable. Excludes allowance for financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123577603&loc=SL6953423-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(7)(2))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126897435&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(4))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255206&loc=SL82895884-210446

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919249-210447

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919249-210447

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph (a)
-Subparagraph (3)

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph (c)

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph (a)
-Subparagraph (1)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans held for sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124259787&loc=d3e4428-111522

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126897435&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, before valuation allowance, of financing receivable classified as held-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124259787&loc=d3e4428-111522

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124265262&loc=d3e48678-111004

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableHeldForSaleAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The balance represents the amount of loans that are secured by real estate mortgages, offset by the reserve to cover probable credit losses on the loan portfolio.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(c))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126734703&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost, before allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable. Excludes financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement and net investment in lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7A
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123577603&loc=SL6953401-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124267575&loc=SL82922352-210448

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(3)(b))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 14
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919253-210447

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255206&loc=SL82895884-210446

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919230-210447

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 80
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124267575&loc=SL82922355-210448

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph (a)
-Subparagraph (1)

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph (a)
-Subparagraph (2)

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1404
-Paragraph (a)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost, after allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable. Excludes financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement and net investment in lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919230-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124259787&loc=d3e4428-111522

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=met_ResidentialLoansHeldForInvestmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesByIndustryAxis=us-gaap_AgriculturalSectorMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: