Derivatives (Cash Flow Hedges) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Discontinuation of Cash Flow Hedge Due to Forecasted Transaction Probable of Not Occurring, Net	$ (10)	$ 1
Maximum Length of Time Hedged in Cash Flow Hedge	5 years		5 years
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	$ 182		$ 166

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to the effective portion of derivatives designated in cash flow hedges.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4E
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4E

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of net gain (loss) reclassified into earnings in the period when cash flow hedge is discontinued because it is probable that the original forecasted transactions will not occur by the end of the original period or an additional two month time period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480870/815-30-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnDiscontinuationOfCashFlowHedgeDueToForecastedTransactionProbableOfNotOccurringNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-SubTopic 30
-Topic 815
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480870/815-30-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MaximumLengthOfTimeHedgedInCashFlowHedge1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration