| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 2408404 - Disclosure - NOTES PAYABLE - Aggregate Contractual Maturities of Notes Payable (Detail) (http://www.aflac.com/role/NotesPayableAggregateContractualMaturitiesOfNotesPayableDetail) |
| Table | Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] |
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0000004977 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) |
| Period [Axis] | 2012-12-31 |
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | Debt Instrument [Axis] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term Debt [Member] | Capital Lease Obligations [Member] | Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] | |
2013 | 0 | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
2014 | 395,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 397,000,000 |
2015 | 474,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 476,000,000 |
2016 | 274,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 275,000,000 |
2017 | 650,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 651,000,000 |
Thereafter | 2,550,000,000 | 0 | 2,550,000,000 |
Total | 4,343,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 4,352,000,000 |