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

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.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 825
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477351/944-825-50-1B

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

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.

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

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of the embedded derivative or group of embedded derivatives classified as an asset.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)(i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4B

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

Amount of funds held as security for payments to be received under reinsurance contracts.

No definition available.