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Lazard Emerging Markets Income Portfolio  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Lazard Emerging Markets Income Portfolio
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Portfolio seeks total return consisting of appreciation and income.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. Investors transacting in Institutional shares through a financial intermediary acting as a broker in an agency capacity may be required to pay a commission directly to the broker.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination May 01, 2018
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 174% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 174.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.


The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in currencies, debt securities, derivative instruments and other investments that are economically tied to emerging market countries. Such investments may include combinations of these instruments that have economic characteristics similar to currencies or debt securities economically tied to emerging markets countries, such as a currency forward contract denominated in an emerging markets currency and US dollar-denominated debt security in a principal amount corresponding to the notional value of forward contracts, which together have economic characteristics similar to a debt security denominated in the emerging markets currency. Derivatives instruments in which the Portfolio may invest include forward currency contracts (including non-deliverable forward contracts). Debt securities in which the Portfolio may invest include debt securities issued or guaranteed by governments, government agencies or supranational bodies; corporate obligations; fixed and/or adjustable rate or inflation-linked investment grade and non-investment grade bonds (“junk bonds”); convertible securities; zero coupon securities; CDOs; short- and medium-term obligations and other fixed-income obligations; and commercial paper and money market instruments such as certificates of deposit.


Emerging market countries include all countries represented by the JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Plus Index (ELMI +) or countries outside of the G-10, although the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among countries and regions may vary from time to time based on the judgment of the Investment Manager and its analysis of market conditions. The securities or instruments in which the Portfolio invests may be denominated in US and non-US currencies, including the local currency of the issuer.


Although the Portfolio is not restricted to investments in securities of any particular maturity or duration, the average duration of the Portfolio is expected to be short, typically less than one year. The Investment Manager may extend duration in particular countries when domestic yield curves are favorable.


The Portfolio is not limited to securities of any particular quality or investment grade and, as a result, the Portfolio may invest in securities rated below investment grade (e.g., lower than Baa by Moody’s or lower than BBB by S&P) (“junk bonds”) or securities that are unrated.


The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use derivative instruments that are part of its primary investment strategy, such as forward currency contracts, for hedging purposes.


The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money.


Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies.


Derivatives and Hedging Risk. Derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Portfolio investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Forward currency contracts and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty and can be illiquid. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded options and other derivatives transactions in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related currency, security or other reference asset. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. In fact, many derivatives may be subject to greater risk than those associated with investing directly in the underlying or other reference asset. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted from hedging activities. Successful use of derivatives, whether for hedging or for other investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market and, for hedging activities, correlation of the derivative instruments used with the investments seeking to be hedged. Use of derivatives transactions, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions.


Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.


Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.


Counterparty Credit Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy is dependent in significant part on counterparties to derivatives transactions. Transactions with such counterparties are subject to the risk of default by a counterparty, which could result in the loss of monies owed to the Portfolio by a counterparty.


Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio.


Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening.


Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the US and other countries are at or near historic lows.


The Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities ("junk bonds") are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.


Some debt securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity. If securities held by the Portfolio are called during a time of declining interest rates (which is typically the case when issuers exercise options to call outstanding securities), the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Portfolio may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates).


Adjustable rate or inflation-linked securities provide the Portfolio with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates or inflation rates, respectively, although adjustable rate securities will participate in any declines in interest rates and inflation-linked securities can also decline in value based on changes in the relevant periodic adjustment rate. Certain adjustable rate securities, such as those with interest rates that fluctuate directly or indirectly based on multiples of a stated index, are designed to be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and can subject the holders thereof to extreme reductions of yield and possibly loss of principal. Certain fixed-income securities may be issued at a discount from their face value (such as zero coupon securities) or purchased at a price less than their stated face amount or at a price less than their issue price plus the portion of “original issue discount” previously accrued thereon, i.e., purchased at a “market discount.” The amount of original issue discount and/or market discount on certain obligations may be significant, and accretion of market discount together with original issue discount will cause the Portfolio to realize income prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these securities.


Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.


Liquidity Risk. The lack of a readily available market may limit the ability of the Portfolio to sell certain securities at the time and price it would like. The size of certain debt securities offerings of emerging markets issuers may be relatively smaller in size than debt offerings in more developed markets and, in some cases, the Portfolio, by itself or together with other Portfolios or other accounts managed by the Investment Manager, may hold a position in a security that is large relative to the typical trading volume for that security; these factors can make it difficult for the Portfolio to dispose of the position at the desired time or price.


Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.


High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in an increase in taxable capital gains distributions to the Portfolio’s shareholders, which will reduce returns to shareholders.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance Bar Chart and Table Year-by-Year Total Returns for Institutional Shares As of 12/31
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Emerging Markets Income Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Portfolio’s Institutional Shares has varied from year to year. Updated performance information is available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Emerging Markets Income Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (800) 823-6300
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.LazardNet.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

 

 

 

  


Best Quarter:
3/31/16  5.27%
 
Worst Quarter:
9/30/15  -6.39%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2016
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 5.27%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2015
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (6.39%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2016)
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Shares. After-tax returns of the Portfolio’s other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock

After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Shares. After-tax returns of the Portfolio’s other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Returns shown below for the Portfolio’s R6 Shares (which were not operational as of December 31, 2016) reflect the performance of the Portfolio’s Institutional Shares. R6 Shares would have had substantially similar returns as Institutional Shares because the share classes are invested in the same portfolio of securities, and the returns would differ only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses.
Lazard Emerging Markets Income Portfolio | JP Morgan Emerging Local Markets Index Plus (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 3.54%
Life of Portfolio rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (4.57%)
Lazard Emerging Markets Income Portfolio | Institutional Shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.65%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 1.60%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (Underlying Funds) rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.26%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 1.35% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.91% [2]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 93
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 576
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,087
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 2,490
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (8.04%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 (2.82%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.82%
Life of Portfolio rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (5.20%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2014
Lazard Emerging Markets Income Portfolio | Institutional Shares | After Taxes on Distributions  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.71%
Life of Portfolio rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (5.60%)
Lazard Emerging Markets Income Portfolio | Institutional Shares | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 1.83%
Life of Portfolio rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (4.05%)
Lazard Emerging Markets Income Portfolio | Open Shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.65%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 11.39%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (Underlying Funds) rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 12.30%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 11.24% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.06% [2]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 108
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 2,482
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 4,522
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 8,452
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.52%
Life of Portfolio rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (5.48%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Apr. 30, 2014
Lazard Emerging Markets Income Portfolio | R6 Shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.65%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 1.60% [3]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (Underlying Funds) rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.26%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 1.40% [1]
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.86% [2]
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, using “Other Expenses” for Institutional Shares from the last fiscal year.
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 87
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 571
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,081
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 2,485
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess Returns shown below for the Portfolio’s R6 Shares (which were not operational as of December 31, 2016) reflect the performance of the Portfolio’s Institutional Shares.
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 2.82%
Life of Portfolio rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (5.20%)
[1] Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2018, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed .90%, 1.05% and .85% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Institutional Shares, Open Shares and R6 Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio.
[2] Excluding Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement are .90%, 1.05% and .85% of the Portfolio's Institutional Shares, Open Shares and R6 Shares, respectively.
[3] "Other Expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, using "Other Expenses" for Institutional Shares from the last fiscal year.