Financial Condition and Net Income on a Statutory Basis - Significant Subsidiaries (Statutory Accounting Practices Disclosure) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
RGA Reinsurance [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	$ 1,503,402	$ 1,528,301
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	(23,615)	17,085	$ 115,814
RCM [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	1,598,328	1,625,276
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	51,041	126,326	109,084
RGA Canada [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	874,151	915,130
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	113,526	225,083	89,428
RGA Barbados [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	654,245	690,420
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	98,284	39,293	70,940
RGA Australia [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	335,631	373,582
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	(18,128)	874	(70,404)
RGA Atlantic [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	554,417	435,408
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	132,192	113,055	(27,137)
RGA Americas [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	2,699,101	2,787,552
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	218,067	236,215	147,363
Other Reinsurance Subsidiaries [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	2,136,480	1,941,996
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	$ 300,847	$ (647,259)	$ 252,571