Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2019	Jun. 29, 2018
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION FANNIE MAE
Entity Central Index Key	0000310522
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,158,087,567
Entity Public Float			$ 1.6
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes