Note 8 - Investment and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures - Investment Details (Details) - USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
The company's investment		$ 12,008,075,148	$ 11,568,809,126	$ 10,018,225,775	$ 9,123,343,869
Kim Pru and Kim Pru II [Member]
Average ownership interest	[1],[2]	15.00%	15.00%
Number of properties	[1],[2]	48	53
The company's investment	[1],[2]	$ 182,500,000	$ 175,500,000
Kimco Income Fund [Member]
Average ownership interest	[2]	48.60%	48.60%
Number of properties	[2]	45	47
The company's investment	[2]	$ 145,200,000	$ 131,000,000
CPP [Member]
Average ownership interest	[2],[3]	55.00%	55.00%
Number of properties	[2],[3]	5	7
The company's investment	[2],[3]	$ 111,800,000	$ 195,600,000
Other Institutional Programs [Member]
Number of properties	[2]	2	9
The company's investment	[2]	$ 400,000	$ 5,200,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Number of properties	[4]	34	40
The company's investment	[4]	$ 60,400,000	$ 64,000,000
Canadian Properties [Member]
Average ownership interest		50.00%
Number of properties		1	35
The company's investment		$ 3,900,000	$ 171,300,000
All Equity Method Investments [Member]
Number of properties		135	191
The company's investment		$ 504,200,000	$ 742,600,000

[1] Represents four separate joint ventures, with four separate accounts managed by Prudential Global Investment Management ("PGIM"), three of these ventures are collectively referred to as KimPru and the remaining venture is referred to as KimPru II.

[2] The Company manages these joint venture investments and, where applicable, earns acquisition fees, leasing commissions, property management fees, asset management fees and construction management fees.

[3] During the year ended December 31, 2016, CPP joint venture acquired a property interest adjacent to an existing operating property in Temecula, CA for a gross purchase price of $27.5 million.

[4] Includes five land parcels located in Mexico.