Investments - Schedule of Investment Funds (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, Unfunded Commitments	$ 744,000
Capital called from investment funds	$ 154,000
Minimum
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Extension options term of non-redeemable funds	1 year
Expected life of redeemable funds	6 months
Maximum
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Expected life of non-redeemable funds	12 years
Extension options term of non-redeemable funds	4 years
Expected life of redeemable funds	36 months
Commercial mortgage loans
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, Fair Value	$ 411,315	$ 431,405
Investment funds, Unfunded Commitments	540,972
Opportunistic and private credit
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, Fair Value	181,410	158,524
Investment funds, Unfunded Commitments	129,253
Infrastructure
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, Fair Value	165,887	159,534
Investment funds, Unfunded Commitments	16,800
Other investments
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, Fair Value	36,971	19,226
Investment funds, Unfunded Commitments	57,343
Investment funds
Alternative Investment [Line Items]
Investment funds, Fair Value	795,583	768,689
Investment funds, Unfunded Commitments	744,368
Capital called from investment funds	$ 154,000	$ 201,000

Alternative Investment

No definition available.

Name:	gl_AlternativeInvestmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	gl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expected Life of Non-Redeemable Funds

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Expected Life of Redeemable Funds

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Extension Options Term of Non-Redeemable Funds

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value of investment other than investment in equity security, investment in debt security and equity method investment. Includes, but is not limited to, investment in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share. Example includes, but is not limited to, investment in hedge fund, venture capital fund, private equity fund, and real estate partnership or fund.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 35
-Paragraph 54B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482134/820-10-35-54B

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6A
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of unfunded commitments for which the entity is obligated, to those certain investments for which net asset value per share is calculated (including by unit, membership interest, or other equity (ownership interest) unit measure) (alternative investments).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6A
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6A

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash outflow for securities or other assets acquired, which qualify for treatment as an investing activity and are to be liquidated, if necessary, beyond the current operating cycle. Includes cash flows from securities classified as trading securities that were acquired for reasons other than sale in the long-term.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-13

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireLongtermInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=gl_OpportunisticAndPrivateCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=gl_InfrastructureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=srt_PartnershipInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: