Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 30, 2019
Document And Entitiy Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document period end date	Mar. 31, 2019
Amendment flag	false
Entity registrant name	REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA INC
Entity central index key	0000898174
Entity current reporting status	Yes
Current fiscal year end date	--12-31
Entity filer category	Large Accelerated Filer
Common Shares Outstanding		62,560,064
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false