Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document And Entitiy Information [Abstract]
Document type	10-K
Document period end date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment flag	false
Entity registrant name	REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA INC
Entity central index key	0000898174
Entity current reporting status	Yes
Entity voluntary filers	No
Current fiscal year end date	--12-31
Entity filer category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity well known seasoned issuer	Yes
Common Shares Outstanding		64,334,902
Entity public float			$ 6.2
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY