SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Reconciliation of Number of Shares of Common Stock (Detail)				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Common Stock	Mar. 31, 2012 Common Stock	Mar. 31, 2013 Treasury Stock	Mar. 31, 2012 Treasury Stock
Common Stock Issued [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	665,778,000	665,239,000		665,239,000	663,639,000
Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted shares				539,000	798,000
Balance, end of period	665,778,000	665,239,000		665,778,000	664,437,000
Treasury Stock [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period						197,453,000	197,329,000
Open market						2,979,000	0
Other						124,000	199,000
Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan						(364,000)	(381,000)
Exercise of stock options						(294,000)	(39,000)
Other						(145,000)	(134,000)
Balance, end of period						199,753,000	196,974,000
Shares outstanding, end of period	466,025,000		467,463,000