Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	May 01, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	000-16509
Entity Registrant Name	CITIZENS, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	CO
Entity Tax Identification Number	84-0755371
Entity Address, Address Line One	14231 Tandem Blvd, 2nd Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	Austin
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	78728
City Area Code	512
Local Phone Number	837-7100
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock
Trading Symbol	CIA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Central Index Key	0000024090
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Small Business	false
Common Stock Class A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		52,476,800
Common Stock Class B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,001,714