Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Aug. 02, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CITIZENS, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000024090
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock Class A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		52,364,993
Common Stock Class B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,001,714