CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY Statement - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	$ 14,352.0	$ 1.0	$ 2,406.0	$ 8,148.0	$ (1,562.0)	$ 5,359.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0.0
Net income (loss) available to RGA, Inc. shareholders	461.0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(1,776.0)
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(145.0)			(145.0)
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	(48.0)				(48.0)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Treasury Stock Reissued	41.0		41.0	6.0	6.0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	13,444.0	1.0	2,430.0	8,531.0	(1,559.0)	4,041.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0.0
Net income (loss) available to RGA, Inc. shareholders	(22.0)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(458.0)
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(50.0)			(50.0)
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	(46.0)				(46.0)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Treasury Stock Reissued	17.0		17.0	1.0	1.0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	12,885.0	1.0	2,447.0	8,458.0	(1,604.0)	3,583.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	13,014.0	1.0	2,461.0	8,563.0	(1,653.0)	3,642.0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	13,014.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0.0
Net income (loss) available to RGA, Inc. shareholders	419.0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(9,606.0)
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(152.0)			(152.0)
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	(54.0)				(54.0)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Treasury Stock Reissued	32.0		32.0	10.0	10.0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(2.0)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	421.0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	5,839.0	1.0	2,478.0	8,592.0	(1,673.0)	(3,559.0)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	5,929.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	90.0
Net income (loss) available to RGA, Inc. shareholders	284.0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(2,405.0)
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(54.0)			(54.0)
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	(27.0)				(27.0)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Treasury Stock Reissued	16.0		15.0	2.0	3.0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(1.0)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	285.0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	3,653.0	$ 1.0	$ 2,493.0	$ 8,820.0	$ (1,697.0)	$ (5,964.0)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,743.0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 90.0