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Component: (Network and Table)
Network
2409407 - Disclosure - INCOME TAXES - Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Amount of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Detail)
(http://www.aflac.com/role/IncomeTaxesReconciliationOfBeginningAndEndingAmountOfUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDetail)
Table(Implied)
Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)
Reporting Entity [Axis]0000004977 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]Period [Axis]
2012-01-01 - 2012-12-31
2011-01-01 - 2011-12-31
2010-12-31
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
 
 
 
Tax deductions
7,000,000  
10,000,000  
8,000,000  
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of year
31,000,000 1
24,000,000 1
 
Additions for tax positions of prior years
7,000,000  
7,000,000  
 
Settlements
(3,000,000) 
0  
 
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
(14,000,000) 
0  
 
Balance, end of year
21,000,000 1
 
31,000,000 1
 
 
 
1: Amounts do not include tax deductions of $7 at December 31, 2012, $10 at December 31, 2011, and $8 at January 1, 2011.