Debt Instrument, Extension Term

No definition available.

Name:	gl_DebtInstrumentExtensionTerm
Namespace Prefix:	gl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Redemption, Optional Redemption, Period From Issuance

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gl_DebtInstrumentRedemptionOptionalRedemptionPeriodFromIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	gl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line Of Credit Facility, Accordion Feature, Increase Limit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gl_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeatureIncreaseLimit
Namespace Prefix:	gl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line Of Credit Facility, Number Of Extension Options

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Long-Term Debt, Face Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gl_LongTermDebtFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	gl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

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+ Details

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

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and Federal Reserve Bank stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of interest payable on debt, including, but not limited to, trade payables.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
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-Topic 942
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+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Debt - Additional Information (Details)			12 Months Ended
Debt - Additional Information (Details)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) extensionOption	Jun. 14, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 15, 2021 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of debt			$ 325,000,000	$ 700,000,000	$ 0
Par Value			1,565,612,000
FHLB stock			$ 7,900,000
Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 750,000,000
Potential maximum borrowing capacity	$ 1,000,000,000
Number of extension options \| extensionOption	2
Extension term	1 year
Junior Subordinated Debentures due July 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Accrued interest						$ 1,500,000
Subordinated Debentures \| Junior Subordinated Debentures due June 2061
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		4.25%
Debt, face amount		$ 325,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of debt		$ 317,000,000
Subordinated Debentures \| Junior Subordinated Debentures due July 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate						6.125%
Senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Optional redemption, period from issuance date			5 years
Junior Subordinated Debentures Due 2056
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			4.25%
Par Value						$ 300,000,000