Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 12, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Entity Registrant Name	MIDWEST HOLDING INC.
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,023,408,553
Entity Public Float			$ 1,281,854
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0000355379
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Ex Transition Period	false