Financial Condition and Net Income on a Statutory Basis - Significant Subsidiaries (Statutory Accounting Practices Disclosure) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
RGA Reinsurance [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance		$ 1,521,644	$ 1,503,402
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		148,576	(23,615)	$ 17,085
RCM [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance		1,651,274	1,598,328
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		272,038	51,041	126,326
RGA Canada [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance		915,134	874,151
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		13,947	113,526	225,083
RGA Barbados [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	[1]	957,051	835,126
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	[1]	95,859	113,049	66,097
RGA Australia [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance		370,039	335,631
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		(7,694)	(18,128)	874
RGA Atlantic [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance		596,016	554,417
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		110,172	132,192	113,055
RGA Americas [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	[1]	3,416,512	3,135,177
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	[1]	267,876	260,599	258,588
Other Reinsurance Subsidiaries [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance		2,224,833	2,136,480
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		$ 130,289	$ 300,847	$ (647,259)

[1] In 2016, the Company contributed to RGA Reinsurance Company (Barbados) Ltd. all of the outstanding shares of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, RGA Global Reinsurance Company, Ltd., and Manor Reinsurance, Ltd. In 2016, the Company also contributed to RGA Americas Reinsurance Company, Ltd. all of the outstanding shares of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, RGA International Reinsurance Company dac and Leidsche Leven Holding B.V. Periods prior to 2016 have been adjusted to reflect the contributions.