Name:	afl_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix:	afl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which decreases (increases) allowance for credit loss on debt securities, held-to-maturity.

No definition available.

Name:	afl_DebtSecuritiesHeldToMaturityAllowanceForCreditLossForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix:	afl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Financing Receivable and Debt Securities, Allowance for Credit Loss

No definition available.

Name:	afl_FinancingReceivableAndDebtSecuritiesAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	afl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Financing Receivable and Debt Securities, Allowance for Credit Loss, Foreign Currency Translation

No definition available.

Name:	afl_FinancingReceivableAndDebtSecuritiesAllowanceForCreditLossForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix:	afl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Financing Receivable and Debt Securities, Allowance for Credit Loss, Period Increase (Decrease)

No definition available.

Name:	afl_FinancingReceivableAndDebtSecuritiesAllowanceForCreditLossPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	afl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Financing Receivable and Debt Securities, Allowance for Credit Loss, Writeoff, after Recovery

No definition available.

Name:	afl_FinancingReceivableAndDebtSecuritiesAllowanceForCreditLossWriteoffAfterRecovery
Namespace Prefix:	afl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

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

Amount of allowance for credit loss on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (aaa)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479130/326-30-45-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479106/326-30-50-9

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479106/326-30-50-9

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of increase (decrease) in allowance for credit loss of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479106/326-30-50-9

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of writeoff of allowance for credit loss on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (g)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479106/326-30-50-9

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossWriteoff
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of allowance for credit loss for debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity).

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesHeldToMaturityAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of increase (decrease) in allowance for credit loss on investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-13

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesHeldToMaturityAllowanceForCreditLossPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of writeoff of investment in debt security, measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity), charged against allowance for credit loss.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-13

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesHeldToMaturityAllowanceForCreditLossWriteoff
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which decreases (increases) allowance for credit loss on financing receivable. Excludes net investment in lease.

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount, after recovery, of writeoff of financing receivable, charged against allowance for credit loss.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479294/326-20-55-79

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph a
-Subparagraph (4)
-Publisher SEC

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-13

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossWriteoffAfterRecovery
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of allowance for credit loss on financing receivable. Excludes allowance for financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-13

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477657/942-210-S45-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478478/942-210-S50-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(7)(2))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478546/942-210-S99-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477263/942-210-45-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-13

Reference 7: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481962/310-10-50-11B

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph c
-Publisher SEC

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph a
-Subparagraph (1)
-Publisher SEC

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Regulation S-K (SK)
-Number 229
-Section 1405
-Paragraph a
-Subparagraph (3)
-Publisher SEC

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(4))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479344/326-20-45-1

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of increase (decrease) in allowance for credit loss on financing receivable.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481962/310-10-50-11B

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-13

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=afl_TransitionalrealestateloansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=afl_CommercialmortgageloansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=afl_MiddlemarketloansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: