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Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail)
12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Rate
Dec. 31, 2014
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
GBP (£)
Dec. 31, 2013
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
USD ($)
Rate
Dec. 31, 2013
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
GBP (£)
Rate
Dec. 31, 2012
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
USD ($)
Rate
Dec. 31, 2014
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Dec. 31, 2014
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
USD ($)
Rate
Dec. 31, 2012
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Equity Securites
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
Rate
Dec. 31, 2014
Fixed Maturity Securities
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
Rate
Dec. 31, 2014
Alternative Investments
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
Rate
Dec. 31, 2014
Diversified Growth Assets
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
Rate
Dec. 31, 2014
Interest Rate Contract
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
Rate
Dec. 31, 2014
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2014
Minimum
Private Equity Funds
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
Dec. 31, 2014
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2014
Maximum
Private Equity Funds
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
Dec. 31, 2012
Prior to Pension Amendments
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
Dec. 31, 2013
After Pension Amendment
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
Dec. 31, 2013
After Pension Amendment
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
Dec. 31, 2013
Pre-Remeasurement Date
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
Dec. 31, 2013
Pre-Remeasurement Date
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
Dec. 31, 2013
Post-Remeasurement Date
Pension Benefits, U.S. Plans
Dec. 31, 2013
Post-Remeasurement Date
Pension Benefits, Non U.S. Plans
Dec. 31, 2014
U.S. Defined Contribution Plan
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
U.S. Defined Contribution Plan
USD ($)
Rate
Dec. 31, 2012
U.S. Defined Contribution Plan
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Non U.S. Defined Contribution Plan
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Non U.S. Defined Contribution Plan
GBP (£)
Dec. 31, 2013
Non U.S. Defined Contribution Plan
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Non U.S. Defined Contribution Plan
USD ($)
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure                                                                        
Pension Plan Lump-sum Settlement Payment   $ 214,500,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPurchasesSalesAndSettlements
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Pension Settlement Costs   64,400,000unm_EffectofPensionSettlementonNetPeriodicBenefitCosts
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Discount Rate Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation   4.40%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
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5.30%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
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5.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
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                    4.50%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
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5.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
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4.60%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
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Expected Long-term Return on Assets Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost   7.50%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
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7.50%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
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  6.10%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
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5.75%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
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5.75%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
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                    6.20%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
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Decrease in Pension Liability Due to Remeasurement     327,400,000us-gaap_IncrementalEffectOnBalanceSheetLiabilityOrEquityLineItemChangeDueToAdditionalMinimumPensionLiabilityAMLAdjustmentPeriodIncreaseDecrease
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Tax Impact of Curtailments     114,600,000unm_DefinedBenefitPlanCurtailmentsTaxImpact
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Maximum Inflation Rate on Pensionable Earnings             2.50%unm_MaximumInflationRateonPensionableEarnings
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Net Prior Service Credit Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income Before Tax                         5,000,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmountsRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax
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Average Remaining Life Expectancy of Plan Participants   35 years     34 years 34 years                                                            
Target Plan Asset Allocations                           35.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
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Private Equity Partnership Future Liquidation Term                                     1 year 5 years 13 years 8 years                            
Level 3 Transfers Into 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersIntoLevel3                   0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersIntoLevel3
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Level 3 Transfers Out of                     0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersOutOfLevel3
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Discount Rate Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost   5.30%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate
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4.60%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ unm_RelationtoRemeasurementDateAxis
= unm_PostRemeasurementDateMember
             
Interest Rate During Period                   5.46%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
5.46%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
5.58%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
                                               
Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed for Next Fiscal Year 7.50%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear                     7.50%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
                                               
Ultimate Health Care Cost Trend Rate 5.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanUltimateHealthCareCostTrendRate                                                                      
Effect of One Percentage Point Increase on Service and Interest Cost Components 100,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointIncreaseOnServiceAndInterestCostComponents                                                                      
Effect of One Percentage Point Decrease on Service and Interest Cost Components (100,000)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnServiceAndInterestCostComponents1                                                                      
Effect of One Percentage Point Increase on Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation 4,700,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointIncreaseOnAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligation                                                                      
Effect of One Percentage Point Decrease on Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation (3,400,000)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligation1                                                                      
Net Actuarial Loss to be Amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Next Fiscal Year 11,900,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmountToBeAmortizedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNextFiscalYear                                                                      
General Discussion of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits   We had no regulatory contribution requirements for our U.S. qualified defined benefit plan in 2014                                                                    
Employer Contributions to Defined Benefit Plan   5,300,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
54,700,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
  2,300,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
1,400,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
4,000,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
      12,000,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
11,700,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
                                               
Contributions Percent of Pensionable Earnings             30.00%unm_PensionPlanContributionsPercentofPensionableEarnings
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
30.00%unm_PensionPlanContributionsPercentofPensionableEarnings
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
24.80%unm_PensionPlanContributionsPercentofPensionableEarnings
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
                                                     
Matching Contribution Percent of Employees' Gross Pay                                                           5.00%us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
3.00%us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
  5.00%us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
5.00%us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
5.00%us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Employer Discretionary Contribution Percentage of earnings                                                           4.50%unm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionPercentageofEarnings
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
    6.00%unm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionPercentageofEarnings
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
6.00%unm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionPercentageofEarnings
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
5.00%unm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionPercentageofEarnings
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Employer Matching Contribution on amts over 3%                                                             0.50unm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionOnAmtsOver3
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
         
Employer Matching Contribution % for $0.50                                                             2.00%unm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionFor050
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
         
Employer Matching Contribution for Every Pound on the First One Percent of Employee Contributions                                                                   2unm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionforEveryPoundontheFirstOnePercentofEmployeeContributions
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Employee Contribution Percentage Received 2-for-1 Employer Match                                                                 1.00%unm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployeeContributionPercentageReceived2for1EmployerMatch
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
1.00%unm_DefinedContributionPlanEmployeeContributionPercentageReceived2for1EmployerMatch
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Cost Recognized                                                           $ 76,000,000us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
$ 18,800,000.0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
$ 18,900,000.0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
$ 5,000,000us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
  $ 2,900,000.0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
$ 2,900,000.0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember