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

Name:	gl_LineOfCreditFacilityNumberOfExtensionOptions
Namespace Prefix:	gl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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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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

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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

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

- Definition

Fair value portion of loan receivable, including, but not limited to, mortgage loans held for investment, finance receivables held for investment, policy loans on insurance contracts.

+ References

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+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, excluding unamortized premium (discount) and debt issuance cost, of long-term debt. Excludes lease obligation.

+ References

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+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt.

+ References

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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from a long-term borrowing made from related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth. Alternate caption: Proceeds from Advances from Affiliates.

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- 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)	May 19, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) extension_option	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 15, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
FHLB stock			$ 14,300,000		$ 7,900,000
Long-term debt, net, book value			1,793,452,000		$ 1,696,246,000
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement \| Asset Pledged as Collateral
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of pledged assets			$ 746,000,000
Senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Optional redemption, period from issuance date			5 years
Senior Notes Due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.80%			3.80%
Borrowed money from affiliate	$ 150,000,000
Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 597,000,000
Long-term debt, net, book value			$ 23,000,000
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 \| extension_option		2
Extension term		1 year
Junior Subordinated Debentures Due 2056
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			4.25%
4.80% Senior Notes Due June 15, 2032 \| Senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, principal amount	$ 400,000,000
Interest rate	4.80%
Borrowed money from affiliate	$ 150,000,000
Total proceeds from issuance of debt to parent	$ 395,000,000