Name:	rga_ClaimsRecoverableFromRetrocessionairesPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The maximum amount retained insurance coverage per individual life.

No definition available.

Name:	rga_MaximumLifeInsuranceRetentionPerIndividualLife
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The known and estimated amount recoverable as of the balance sheet date from reinsurers for claims paid or incurred by the ceding insurer and associated claims settlement expenses, including estimated amounts for claims incurred but not reported, and policy benefits, net of any related valuation allowance.

No definition available.

Name:	rga_ReinsuranceClaimsRecoverables
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Statutory financial reinsurance, as measured by pre-tax statutory surplus, provided to other insurance companies under financial reinsurance transactions to assist ceding companies in meeting applicable regulatory requirements.

No definition available.

Name:	rga_StatutoryFinancialReinsurance
Namespace Prefix:	rga_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The total amount of cash and securities held by third party trustees pursuant to terms of debt instruments or other agreements as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, which can be used by the trustee only to pay the noncurrent portion of specified obligations.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrust
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Description of ceding entity's credit risk concentration associated with reinsurance recoverable and prepaid reinsurance premium. Includes, but is not limited to, concentration of activity, region, or economic characteristic.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 825
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380617&loc=SL75241803-196195

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskReinsurance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_EffectsOfReinsuranceLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount, after valuation allowance, recoverable under reinsurance contracts including premium paid under reinsurance contracts. Examples include, but are not limited to, settled and unsettled claims, incurred but not reported losses, loss adjustment expense, premium paid, policy benefits and policy reserves.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),6)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99397103&loc=d3e6824-158387

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99404803&loc=d3e21409-158489