SUN LIFE FINANCIAL INC (SEC Filing Page | XBRL Cloud Viewer | XBRL Instance)

Line Label Object Class Period Type Balance Report ElementName
1 0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation
2 Disclosure of classes of share capital [table] Table

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 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalTable
3 Classes of share capital [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalAxis
4 Share capital [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalMember
5 Common shares Member ifrs-full:OrdinarySharesMember
6 Class A Preferred Shares Series 1 Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries1Member
7 Class A Preferred Shares Series 2 Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries2Member
8 Class A Preferred Shares Series 3 Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries3Member
9 Class A Preferred Shares Series 4 Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries4Member
10 Class A Preferred Shares Series 5 Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries5Member
11 Class A Preferred Shares Series 8R Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries8RMember
12 Class A Preferred Shares Series 9QR Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries9QRMember
13 Class A Preferred Shares Series 10R Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries10RMember
14 Class A Preferred Shares Series 11QR Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries11QRMember
15 Class A Preferred Shares Series 12R Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries12RMember
16 Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalLineItems
17 Document Type Concept (Submission Type) For Period dei:DocumentType
18 Document Period End Date Concept (Date) For Period dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
19 Amendment Flag Concept (Yes/No) For Period dei:AmendmentFlag
20 Entity Registrant Name Concept (Text/String) For Period dei:EntityRegistrantName
21 Entity Central Index Key Concept (CIK Number) For Period dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
22 Entity Current Reporting Status Concept (Yes/No) For Period dei:EntityCurrentReportingStatus
23 Current Fiscal Year End Date Concept (Month/Day) For Period dei:CurrentFiscalYearEndDate
24 Document Fiscal Year Focus Concept (Year) For Period dei:DocumentFiscalYearFocus
25 Document Fiscal Period Focus Concept (Fiscal Period) For Period dei:DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus
26 Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Concept (Shares) As Of dei:EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding
27 1001000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations
28 Implied Table Table

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 implied:Table
29 Profit or loss [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:IncomeStatementAbstract
30 Revenue Abstract ifrs-full:RevenueAbstract
31 Premiums Abstract slf:PremiumsAbstract
32 Gross Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:DirectPremiumsEarned1
33 Less: Ceded Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:CededPremiumsEarned1
34 Net premiums Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:NetEarnedPremium
35 Net investment income (loss): Abstract slf:InvestmentIncomeLossAbstract
36 Interest and other investment income (Note 5) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:InterestAndInvestmentIncome
37 Fair value and foreign currency changes on assets and liabilities (Note 5) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:GainsLossesOnFinancialAssetsAndFinancialLiabilitiesAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossAndForeignExchangeGainLoss
38 Net gains (losses) on available-for-sale assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesOnAvailableforsaleFinancialAssets
39 Net investment income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:InvestmentIncome
40 Fee income (Note 17) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:FeeAndCommissionIncome
41 Total revenue Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:Revenue
42 Benefits and expenses Abstract ifrs-full:ExpenseByNatureAbstract
43 Gross claims and benefits paid (Note 10) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseForPolicyholderClaimsAndBenefitsWithoutReductionForReinsuranceHeld
44 Increase (decrease) in insurance contract liabilities (Note 10) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:TheIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceLiabilities
45 Decrease (increase) in reinsurance assets (Note 10) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncreaseDecreaseInReinsuranceAssetsExcludingAcquisitionsOtherPolicyAssetsAndExchangeDifferences
46 Increase (decrease) in investment contract liabilities (Note 10) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInvestmentContractLiabilities
47 Reinsurance expenses (recoveries) (Note 11) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncomeFromContractsWithReinsurers
48 Commissions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:FeeAndCommissionExpense
49 Net transfer to (from) segregated funds (Note 22) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:NetTransferToFromSeparateAccounts
50 Operating expenses (Note 18) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:OperatingExpense
51 Premium taxes Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:TaxExpenseOtherThanIncomeTaxExpense
52 Interest expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:InterestExpense
53 Total benefits and expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseByNature
54 Income (loss) before income taxes Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossBeforeTax
55 Less: Income tax expense (benefit) (Note 20) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxExpenseContinuingOperations
56 Total net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLoss
57 Less: Net income (loss) attributable to participating policyholders (Note 21) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:ProfitLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestsAndParticipatingPolicyholders
58 Shareholders' net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossAttributableToOwnersOfParent
59 Less: Preferred shareholders' dividends Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentToProfitLossForPreferenceShareDividends
60 Common shareholders' net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossAttributableToOrdinaryEquityHoldersOfParentEntity
61 Average exchange rates during the reporting periods (in USD per share) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:AverageForeignExchangeRate
62 Earnings (loss) per share Abstract ifrs-full:EarningsPerShareAbstract
63 Basic earnings (loss) per share (in CAD per share) Concept (Share) For Period ifrs-full:BasicEarningsLossPerShare
64 Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in CAD per share) Concept (Share) For Period ifrs-full:DilutedEarningsLossPerShare
65 Dividends per common share (in CAD per share) Concept (Share) For Period ifrs-full:DividendsPaidOrdinarySharesPerShare
66 1004000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncomeLoss
67 Implied Table Table

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 implied:Table
68 Statement of comprehensive income [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:StatementOfComprehensiveIncomeAbstract
69 Total net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLoss
70 Items that may be reclassified subsequently to income: Abstract ifrs-full:ComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTaxAbstract
71 Change in unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses): Abstract ifrs-full:ExchangeDifferencesOnTranslationAbstract
72 Unrealized gains (losses) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesOnExchangeDifferencesOnTranslationNetOfTax
73 Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale assets: Abstract ifrs-full:AvailableforsaleFinancialAssetsAbstract
74 Unrealized gains (losses) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesOnRemeasuringAvailableforsaleFinancialAssetsNetOfTax
75 Reclassifications to net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ReclassificationAdjustmentsOnAvailableforsaleFinancialAssetsNetOfTax
76 Change in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges: Abstract ifrs-full:CashFlowHedgesAbstract
77 Unrealized gains (losses) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesOnCashFlowHedgesNetOfTax
78 Reclassifications to net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ReclassificationAdjustmentsOnCashFlowHedgesNetOfTax
79 Share of other comprehensive income (loss) in joint ventures and associates: Abstract ifrs-full:ShareOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethodBeforeTaxAbstract
80 Unrealized gains (losses) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:UnrecognisedShareOfLossesGainsOfJointVenturesAndAssociates
81 Total items that may be reclassified subsequently to income Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTax
82 Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to income: Abstract ifrs-full:ComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillNotBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTaxAbstract
83 Remeasurement of defined benefit plans Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxGainsLossesOnRemeasurementsOfDefinedBenefitPlans
84 Revaluation surplus on transfer to investment properties (Note 5.A) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxGainsLossesOnRevaluation
85 Total items that will not be reclassified subsequently to income Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillNotBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTax
86 Total other comprehensive income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncome
87 Total comprehensive income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ComprehensiveIncome
88 Less: Participating policyholders' comprehensive income (loss) (Note 21) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:ComprehensiveIncomeAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestsAndParticipatingPolicyholders
89 Shareholders' comprehensive income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ComprehensiveIncomeAttributableToOwnersOfParent
90 Income tax benefit (expense): Abstract ifrs-full:IncomeTaxRelatingToComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeAbstract
91 Items that may be reclassified subsequently to income: Abstract ifrs-full:IncomeTaxRelatingToComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossAbstract
92 Unrealized foreign currency translation gains / losses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:IncomeTaxRelatingToGainLossesOnExchangeDifferencesOnTranslationAndHedgesOfNetInvestmentsInForeignOperations
93 Unrealized gains / losses on available-for-sale assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:IncomeTaxRelatingToGainsLossesOnAvailableforSaleFinancialAssetsOfOtherComprehensiveIncome
94 Reclassifications to net income for available-for-sale assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncomeTaxRelatingToReclassificationAdjustmentsOnAvailableForSaleFinancialAssetsOfOtherComprehensiveIncome
95 Unrealized gains / losses on cash flow hedges Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:IncomeTaxRelatingToGainsLossesOnCashFlowHedgesOfOtherComprehensiveIncome
96 Reclassifications to net income for cash flow hedges Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncomeTaxRelatingToReclassificationAdjustmentsOnCashFlowHedgesOfOtherComprehensiveIncome
97 Total items that may be reclassified subsequently to income Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxRelatingToComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLoss
98 Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to income: Abstract ifrs-full:IncomeTaxRelatingToComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillNotBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossAbstract
99 Remeasurement of defined benefit plans Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxRelatingToRemeasurementsOfDefinedBenefitPlansOfOtherComprehensiveIncome
100 Revaluation surplus on transfer to investment properties (Note 5.A) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxRelatingToChangesInRevaluationSurplusOfOtherComprehensiveIncome
101 Total items that will not be reclassified subsequently to income Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxRelatingToComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillNotBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLoss
102 Total income tax benefit (expense) included in other comprehensive income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:IncomeTaxRelatingToComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncome
103 1005000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfFinancialPosition
104 Implied Table Table

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105 Statement of financial position [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:StatementOfFinancialPositionAbstract
106 Assets Abstract ifrs-full:AssetsAbstract
107 Cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities (Note 5) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:CashCashEquivalentsAndCurrentInvestments
108 Debt securities (Notes 5 and 6) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:DebtInstrumentsHeld
109 Equity securities (Notes 5 and 6) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:EquityInstrumentsHeld
110 Mortgages and loans (Notes 5 and 6) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:LoansAndReceivablesMortgagesandLoans
111 Derivative assets (Notes 5 and 6) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:DerivativeFinancialAssets
112 Other invested assets (Note 5) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:OtherInvestedAssets
113 Policy loans (Note 5) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:LoansAndReceivablesPolicyLoans
114 Investment properties (Note 5) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:InvestmentProperty
115 Invested assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:InvestedAssets
116 Other assets (Note 8) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:OtherAssets
117 Reinsurance assets (Notes 10 and 11) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:ReinsuranceAssets
118 Deferred tax assets (Note 20) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxAssets
119 Intangible assets (Note 9) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
120 Goodwill (Note 9) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:Goodwill
121 Total general fund assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:GeneralFundAssets
122 Investments for account of segregated fund holders (Note 22) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:SeparateAccountAssets1
123 Total assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:Assets
124 Liabilities and equity Abstract ifrs-full:EquityAndLiabilitiesAbstract
125 Liabilities Abstract ifrs-full:LiabilitiesAbstract
126 Insurance contract liabilities (Note 10) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilitiesArisingFromInsuranceContracts
127 Investment contract liabilities (Note 10) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:InvestmentContractsLiabilities
128 Derivative liabilities (Notes 5 and 6) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:DerivativeFinancialLiabilities
129 Deferred tax liabilities (Note 20) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxLiabilities
130 Other liabilities (Note 12) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:OtherLiabilities
131 Senior debentures (Note 13) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:NotesAndDebenturesIssued
132 Subordinated debt (Note 14) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:SubordinatedLiabilities
133 Total general fund liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:GeneralFundLiabilities
134 Insurance contracts for account of segregated fund holders (Note 22) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:SeparateAccountsLiabilitiesArisingFromInsuranceContracts
135 Investment contracts for account of segregated fund holders (Note 22) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:SeparateAccountsInvestmentContractsLiabilities
136 Total liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Liabilities
137 Equity Abstract ifrs-full:EquityAbstract
138 Issued share capital and contributed surplus Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:IssuedCapitalAndAdditionalPaidInCapital
139 Shareholders' retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:RetainedEarningsAndAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
140 Total shareholders' equity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:EquityAttributableToOwnersOfParent
141 Participating policyholders' equity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:EquityAttributableToParticipatingPolicyholders
142 Total equity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Equity
143 Total liabilities and equity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:EquityAndLiabilities
144 Exchange rates at the end of the reporting periods (in USD per share) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:ClosingForeignExchangeRate
145 1006000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfChangesInEquity
146 Statement of changes in equity [table] Table

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 ifrs-full:StatementOfChangesInEquityTable
147 Components of equity [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ComponentsOfEquityAxis
148 Equity [member] Member ifrs-full:EquityMember
149 Issued capital Member ifrs-full:IssuedCapitalMember
150 Contributed surplus Member ifrs-full:AdditionalPaidinCapitalMember
151 Retained earnings Member ifrs-full:RetainedEarningsMember
152 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (Note 27) Member ifrs-full:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
153 Total shareholders' equity Member ifrs-full:EquityAttributableToOwnersOfParentMember
154 Participating policyholders Member slf:ParticipatingPolicyholdersMember
155 Classes of share capital [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalAxis
156 Share capital [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalMember
157 Preferred shares (Note 15) Member ifrs-full:PreferenceSharesMember
158 Common shares (Note 15) Member ifrs-full:OrdinarySharesMember
159 Statement of changes in equity [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:StatementOfChangesInEquityLineItems
160 Changes in equity [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ChangesInEquityAbstract
161 Equity, beginning of year Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Equity
162 Adjustment for change in accounting policy (Note 2) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption1
163 Balance, beginning of year, after change in accounting policy Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:EquityAdjustedBalance
164 Stock options exercised Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughExerciseOfOptions
165 Common shares purchased for cancellation Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:PurchaseOfTreasuryShares
166 Common shares issued as consideration for business acquisition Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncreaseDecreaseInNumberOfSharesOutstandingThroughBusinessCombinationValue
167 Share-based payments Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughSharebasedPaymentTransactions
168 Net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLoss
169 Dividends on shares Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:DividendsPaid
170 Transfer to (from) within equity Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughTransfersAndOtherChangesEquity
171 Transfer from participating policyholders' equity (Note 21) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncreaseDecreaseThroughTransfersFromParticipatingPolicyholdersEquity
172 Equity, end of year Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Equity
173 Total other comprehensive income (loss) for the year Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncome
174 1007000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows
175 Implied Table Table

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176 Statement of cash flows [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:StatementOfCashFlowsAbstract
177 Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities Abstract ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract
178 Income (loss) before income taxes Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossBeforeTax
179 Adjustments: Abstract ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForReconcileProfitLossAbstract
180 Interest expense related to financing activities Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForInterestExpense
181 Increase (decrease) in insurance and investment contract liabilities Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilities
182 Decrease (increase) in reinsurance assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseInReinsuranceAssets
183 Realized and unrealized (gains) losses and foreign currency changes on invested assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForFairValueGainsLosses
184 Sales, maturities and repayments of invested assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForSalesMaturitiesAndRepaymentsOfInvestedAssets
185 Purchases of invested assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:PurchaseOfInvestedAssets
186 Income taxes received (paid) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxesPaidRefundClassifiedAsOperatingActivities
187 Mortgage securitization (Note 5) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInLoansAndReceivablesMortgageSecuritizations
188 Other operating activities Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:OtherInflowsOutflowsOfCashClassifiedAsOperatingActivities
189 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInOperatingActivities
190 Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities Abstract ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract
191 Net (purchase) sale of property and equipment Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PurchaseOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
192 Investment in and transactions with joint ventures and associates (Note 16) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:OtherCashPaymentsToJointVenturesAndAssociatesClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
193 Dividends received from joint ventures and associates (Note 16) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:DividendsReceivedFromInvestmentsAccountedForUsingEquityMethodClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
194 Acquisitions, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired (Note 3)(1) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:CashFlowsUsedInObtainingControlOfSubsidiariesOrOtherBusinessesClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
195 Other investing activities Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:OtherInflowsOutflowsOfCashClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
196 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInInvestingActivities
197 Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities Abstract ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract
198 Increase in (repayment of) borrowed funds Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfBorrowingsEncumbrancesOnRealEstateAndOtherBorrowingsClassifiedAsFinancingActivities
199 Issuance of subordinated debt, net of issuance costs (Note 14) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProceedsFromIssueOfSubordinatedLiabilities
200 Redemption of senior debentures and subordinated debt (Notes 13 and 14) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:RepaymentsOfSubordinatedLiabilitiesAndBondsNotesAndDebentures
201 Issuance of common shares on exercise of stock options Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProceedsFromExerciseOfOptions
202 Common shares purchased for cancellation (Note 15) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PaymentsToAcquireOrRedeemEntitysShares
203 Dividends paid on common and preferred shares Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:DividendsPaidClassifiedAsFinancingActivities
204 Interest expense paid Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:InterestPaidClassifiedAsFinancingActivities
205 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInFinancingActivities
206 Changes due to fluctuations in exchange rates Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:EffectOfExchangeRateChangesOnCashAndCashEquivalents
207 Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseInCashAndCashEquivalents
208 Net cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CashAndCashEquivalents
209 Net cash and cash equivalents, end of year Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CashAndCashEquivalents
210 Short-term securities, end of year Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CurrentInvestments
211 Net cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities, end of year (Note 5) Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CashAndCashEquivalentsIfDifferentFromStatementOfFinancialPosition
212 Total cash consideration paid Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ConsiderationPaidReceived
213 Cash and cash equivalents acquired Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CashAndCashEquivalentsInSubsidiaryOrBusinessesAcquiredOrDisposed2013
214 2101100 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SignificantAccountingPolicies
215 Implied Table Table

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216 Corporate Information And Statement Of IFRS Compliance [Abstract] Abstract slf:CorporateInformationAndStatementOfIFRSComplianceAbstract
217 Significant Accounting Policies Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesExplanatory
218 2104100 - Disclosure - Changes in Accounting Policies Network

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219 Implied Table Table

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220 Accounting Policies, Changes In Accounting Estimates And Errors [Abstract] Abstract slf:AccountingPoliciesChangesInAccountingEstimatesAndErrorsAbstract
221 Changes in Accounting Policies Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfChangesInAccountingPoliciesExplanatory
222 2107100 - Disclosure - Acquisitions Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/Acquisitions
223 Implied Table Table

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224 Business Combinations 1 [Abstract] Abstract slf:BusinessCombinations1Abstract
225 Acquisitions Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfBusinessCombinationsExplanatory
226 2110100 - Disclosure - Segmented Information Network

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227 Implied Table Table

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228 Operating Segments [Abstract] Abstract slf:OperatingSegmentsAbstract
229 Segmented Information Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfEntitysReportableSegmentsExplanatory
230 2113100 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income Network

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231 Implied Table Table

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232 Fair Value Measurement [Abstract] Abstract slf:FairValueMeasurementAbstract
233 Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFairValueMeasurementExplanatory
234 2116100 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management Network

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235 Implied Table Table

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236 Financial Instruments [Abstract] Abstract slf:FinancialInstrumentsAbstract
237 Financial Instrument Risk Management Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsExplanatory
238 2117100 - Disclosure - Risk Categories Network

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239 Implied Table Table

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240 Financial Instruments [Abstract] Abstract slf:FinancialInstrumentsAbstract
241 Risk Categories Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialRiskManagementExplanatory
242 2119100 - Disclosure - Insurance Risk Management Network

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243 Implied Table Table

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244 Insurance Contracts [Abstract] Abstract slf:InsuranceContractsAbstract
245 Insurance Risk Management Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNatureAndExtentOfRisksArisingFromInsuranceContractsExplanatory
246 2122100 - Disclosure - Other Assets Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/OtherAssets
247 Implied Table Table

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248 Subclassifications of assets, liabilities and equities [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:SubclassificationsOfAssetsLiabilitiesAndEquitiesAbstract
249 Other Assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOtherAssetsExplanatory
250 2125100 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssets
251 Implied Table Table

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252 Intangible Assets [Abstract] Abstract slf:IntangibleAssetsAbstract
253 Goodwill and Intangible Assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillExplanatory
254 2128100 - Disclosure - Insurance Contract Liabilities and Investment Contract Liabilities Network

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255 Implied Table Table

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256 Insurance Contracts [Abstract] Abstract slf:InsuranceContractsAbstract
257 Insurance Contract Liabilities and Investment Contract Liabilities Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfInsuranceContractsExplanatory
258 2131100 - Disclosure - Reinsurance Network

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265 Other Liabilities Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOtherLiabilitiesExplanatory
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278 2149100 - Disclosure - Interests in Other Entities Network

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286 2155100 - Disclosure - Operating Expenses Network

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290 2161100 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments Network

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378 Schedule of hedge ineffectiveness Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutHedgingInstrumentsExplanatory
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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesTables
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412 Disclosure of claims and benefits paid Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClaimsAndBenefitsPaidExplanatory
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432 2343301 - Disclosure - Share Capital (Tables) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/OperatingExpensesTables
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467 2367301 - Disclosure - Capital Management (Tables) Network

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500 2381301 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Non-Controlling Interests (Tables) Network

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505 Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [table] Table

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 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable
506 Classes of property, plant and equipment [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis
507 Property, plant and equipment [member] Member ifrs-full:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
508 Owner-occupied properties Member slf:OwnerOccupiedPropertiesMember
509 Furniture, computers, and other office equipment, and leasehold improvements Member slf:FurnitureComputersAndOtherOfficeEquipmentAndLeaseholdImprovementsMember
510 Range [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangeAxis
511 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
512 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
513 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
514 Classes of intangible assets other than goodwill [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwillAxis
515 Intangible assets other than goodwill Member ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwillMember
516 Finite life intangible assets Member slf:FiniteLifeIntangibleAssetsMember
517 Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
518 Property useful life Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:UsefulLivesOrDepreciationRatesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPeriod
519 Intangible asset useful life Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:UsefulLivesOrAmortisationRatesIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwillPeriod
520 2404402 - Disclosure - Changes in Accounting Policies - Amendment to IFRS 4 (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ChangesInAccountingPoliciesAmendmentToIfrs4Details
521 Disclosure of initial application of standards or interpretations [table] Table

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523 Financial instruments, class [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsMember
524 Debt securities Member ifrs-full:DebtSecuritiesMember
525 Mortgages and loans Member slf:MortgagesAndLoansMember
526 Categories of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
527 Financial assets, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsCategoryMember
528 Available-for-sale Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAvailableforsaleCategoryMember
529 Types of risks [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksAxis
530 Risks [member] Member ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksMember
531 Credit risk Member ifrs-full:CreditRiskMember
532 External credit grades [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ExternalCreditGradesAxis
533 Entity's total for external credit grades [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForExternalCreditGradesMember
534 Below Investment Grade Member slf:BelowInvestmentGradeMember
535 Types of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
536 Financial assets, type [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsTypeMember
537 SPPI Member slf:FinancialAssetsPassingSolelyPaymentOfPrincipalAndInterestTestMember
538 Non-SPPI Member slf:FinancialAssetsFailingSolelyPaymentOfPrincipalAndInterestTestMember
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540 Financial assets, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsMember
541 Debt securities Member slf:DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleMember
542 Mortgages and loans, not supporting insurance contract liabilities Member slf:MortgagesAndLoansNotSupportingInsuranceContractLiabilitiesMember
543 Mortgages and loans, supporting insurance contract liabilities Member slf:MortgagesAndLoansSupportingInsuranceContractLiabilitiesMember
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545 New IFRSs [member] Member ifrs-full:NewIFRSsMember
546 IFRS 4 Member slf:IFRS4Member
547 Disclosure of initial application of standards or interpretations [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfInitialApplicationOfStandardsOrInterpretationsLineItems
548 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
549 2404403 - Disclosure - Changes in Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ChangesInAccountingPoliciesNarrativeDetails
550 Disclosure of voluntary change in accounting policy [table] Table

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551 Subsequent Event Type1 [Axis] Axis slf:SubsequentEventType1Axis
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553 Subsequent Event Member slf:SubsequentEvent1Member
554 Scenario [Axis] Axis slf:ScenarioAxis
555 Scenario [Domain] Member slf:ScenarioDomain
556 Scenario, Forecast Member slf:ScenarioForecast1Member
557 New IFRSs [axis] Axis ifrs-full:NewIFRSsAxis
558 New IFRSs [member] Member ifrs-full:NewIFRSsMember
559 IFRS 16 Member slf:IFRS16Member
560 Initially applied IFRSs [axis] Axis ifrs-full:InitiallyAppliedIFRSsAxis
561 Initially applied IFRSs [member] Member ifrs-full:InitiallyAppliedIFRSsMember
562 IFRS 15 Member slf:IFRS15Member
563 Restatement [Axis] Axis slf:RestatementAxis
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568 Right-of-use assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:RightofuseAssets
569 Lease liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LeaseLiabilities
570 2407401 - Disclosure - Acquisitions - Narrative (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/AcquisitionsNarrativeDetails
571 Disclosure of detailed information about business combination [table] Table

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575 Distribution Intangible Assets Member slf:DistributionIntangibleAssetsMember
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579 FWD Member slf:FWDLifeInsuranceCompanyBermudaLimitedMember
580 Disclosure of detailed information about business combination [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfBusinessCombinationsLineItems
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582 Fair value of consideration transferred Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:AcquisitiondateFairValueOfTotalConsiderationTransferred
583 Cash transferred Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CashTransferred
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585 Liabilities incurred Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilitiesIncurred
586 Distribution agreement term Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:ContingentLiabilitiesRecognisedInBusinessCombinationTerm
587 Percentage of voting shares of certain legal entities acquired Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:PercentageOfVotingEquityInterestsAcquired
588 Increase in identifiable assets acquired (liabilities assumed) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:MeasurementPeriodAdjustmentsRecognisedForParticularAssetsLiabilitiesNoncontrollingInterestsOrItemsOfConsideration
589 Decrease in goodwill Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ChangesInGoodwill
590 Proportion of ownership interest in joint venture Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInJointVenture
591 Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInSubsidiary
592 One-time non-cash gain recorded in interest and other investment income Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:GainLossRecognisedAsResultOfRemeasuringToFairValueEquityInterestInAcquireeHeldByAcquirerBeforeBusinessCombinationIncludingAmountsReclassifiedFromOtherComprehensiveIncome
593 Gain related to difference between fair value and carrying value of interest in acquiree Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainLossRecognisedAsResultOfRemeasuringToFairValueEquityInterestInAcquireeHeldByAcquirerBeforeBusinessCombination
594 Reclassifications to net income (loss) upon change in control Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:ReclassificationAdjustmentsOnShareOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethodThatWillBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTax
595 Cash and cash equivalents recognised as of acquisition date Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CashAndCashEquivalentsRecognisedAsOfAcquisitionDate
596 Intangible assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:IdentifiableIntangibleAssetsRecognisedAsOfAcquisitionDate
597 Goodwill Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:Goodwill
598 Non-controlling interest in acquiree recognised at acquisition date Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:NoncontrollingInterestInAcquireeRecognisedAtAcquisitionDate
599 Period in which acquiree may sell remaining charter capital to the Company Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:PeriodInWhichAcquireeMaySellRemainingCharterCapital
600 Contingent consideration Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:SettledLiabilitiesContingentLiabilitiesRecognisedInBusinessCombination
601 Contingent consideration payment period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:ContingentLiabilitiesRecognisedInBusinessCombinationPaymentPeriod
602 Deferred tax liabilities recognised as of acquisition date Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRecognisedAsOfAcquisitionDate
603 Fair value of net identifiable assets acquired Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:IdentifiableAssetsAcquiredLiabilitiesAssumed
604 Intangible asset useful life Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:UsefulLivesOrAmortisationRatesIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwillPeriod
605 Customer-related intangible assets recognised as of acquisition date Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CustomerrelatedIntangibleAssetsRecognisedAsOfAcquisitionDate
606 Common shares transferred Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:EquityInterestsOfAcquirer
607 2410402 - Disclosure - Segmented Information - Narrative (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SegmentedInformationNarrativeDetails
608 Disclosure of operating segments [table] Table

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 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsTable
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613 Segments [member] Member ifrs-full:SegmentsMember
614 SLF U.S. Member slf:SunLifeFinancialUnitedStatesMember
615 SLF Asia Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAsiaMember
616 Disclosure of operating segments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsLineItems
617 Insurance contract liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilitiesArisingFromInsuranceContracts
618 Number of operating segments Concept (Integer) As Of slf:NumberOfOperatingSegments1
619 2410403 - Disclosure - Segmented Information - Operating Results by Segment (Details) Network

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620 Disclosure of operating segments [table] Table

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624 SLF U.S.(1) Member slf:SunLifeFinancialUnitedStatesMember
625 SLF Asset Management Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAssetManagementMember
626 SLF Asia(1) Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAsiaMember
627 Corporate Member slf:SunLifeFinancialCorporateMember
628 Products and services [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ProductsAndServicesAxis
629 Products and services [member] Member ifrs-full:ProductsAndServicesMember
630 Annuities Member slf:AnnuitiesMember
631 Life insurance Member slf:LifeInsuranceMember
632 Health insurance Member slf:HealthInsuranceMember
633 Segment consolidation items [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SegmentConsolidationItemsAxis
634 Entity's total for segment consolidation items [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForSegmentConsolidationItemsMember
635 Consolidation adjustments Member ifrs-full:EliminationOfIntersegmentAmountsMember
636 Reportable segments Member ifrs-full:ReportableSegmentsMember
637 Disclosure of operating segments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsLineItems
638 Gross premiums: Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:DirectPremiumsEarned1
639 Less: ceded premiums Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:CededPremiumsEarned1
640 Interest income on plan assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:InvestmentIncome
641 Fee income Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:FeeAndCommissionIncome
642 Total revenue Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:Revenue
643 Total benefits and expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseByNature
644 Income tax expense (benefit) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxExpenseContinuingOperations
645 Total net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLoss
646 Less: Net income (loss) attributable to participating policyholders (Note 21) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:ProfitLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestsAndParticipatingPolicyholders
647 Shareholders' net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossAttributableToOwnersOfParent
648 2410404 - Disclosure - Segmented Information - Assets and Liabilities by Segment (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SegmentedInformationAssetsAndLiabilitiesBySegmentDetails
649 Disclosure of operating segments [table] Table

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*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsTable
650 Segments [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SegmentsAxis
651 Segments [member] Member ifrs-full:SegmentsMember
652 SLF Canada Member slf:SunLifeCanadaMember
653 SLF U.S. Member slf:SunLifeFinancialUnitedStatesMember
654 SLF Asset Management Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAssetManagementMember
655 SLF Asia Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAsiaMember
656 Corporate Member slf:SunLifeFinancialCorporateMember
657 Segment consolidation items [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SegmentConsolidationItemsAxis
658 Entity's total for segment consolidation items [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForSegmentConsolidationItemsMember
659 Consolidation adjustments Member ifrs-full:EliminationOfIntersegmentAmountsMember
660 Reportable segments Member ifrs-full:ReportableSegmentsMember
661 Disclosure of operating segments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsLineItems
662 Total general fund assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:GeneralFundAssets
663 Investments for account of segregated fund holders Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:SeparateAccountAssets1
664 Total general fund liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:GeneralFundLiabilities
665 2410405 - Disclosure - Segmented Information - Segment Results by Geographical Area (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SegmentedInformationSegmentResultsByGeographicalAreaDetails
666 Disclosure of operating segments [table] Table

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*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsTable
667 Segments [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SegmentsAxis
668 Segments [member] Member ifrs-full:SegmentsMember
669 SLF Asset Management Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAssetManagementMember
670 Corporate Member slf:SunLifeFinancialCorporateMember
671 Geographical areas [axis] Axis ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasAxis
672 Geographical areas [member] Member ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasMember
673 United States Member country:US
674 United Kingdom Member country:GB
675 Canada Member country:CA
676 Other countries Member slf:OtherCountriesMember
677 Disclosure of operating segments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsLineItems
678 Revenue Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:Revenue
679 2410406 - Disclosure - Segmented Information - Segment Assets and Liabilities by Geographical Area (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SegmentedInformationSegmentAssetsAndLiabilitiesByGeographicalAreaDetails
680 Disclosure of operating segments [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsTable
681 Segments [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SegmentsAxis
682 Segments [member] Member ifrs-full:SegmentsMember
683 SLF Asset Management Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAssetManagementMember
684 Corporate Member slf:SunLifeFinancialCorporateMember
685 Geographical areas [axis] Axis ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasAxis
686 Geographical areas [member] Member ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasMember
687 United States Member country:US
688 United Kingdom Member country:GB
689 Canada Member country:CA
690 Other countries Member slf:OtherCountriesMember
691 Disclosure of operating segments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsLineItems
692 Total general fund assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:GeneralFundAssets
693 Investments for account of segregated fund holders Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:SeparateAccountAssets1
694 2413402 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income - Carrying Value and Fair Value of Financial Assets (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/TotalInvestedAssetsAndRelatedNetInvestmentIncomeCarryingValueAndFairValueOfFinancialAssetsDetails
695 Disclosure of fair value measurement of assets [table] Table

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*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFairValueMeasurementOfAssetsTable
696 Classes of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
697 Financial assets, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsMember
698 Cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities Member slf:CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsMember
699 Debt securities Member ifrs-full:DebtSecuritiesMember
700 Equity securities Member ifrs-full:OtherEquitySecuritiesMember
701 Mortgages and loans Member slf:MortgagesAndLoansMember
702 Derivative assets Member ifrs-full:DerivativesMember
703 Other invested assets Member slf:OtherInvestedAssetsMember
704 Policy loans Member slf:PolicyLoans1Member
705 Financial assets Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAtFairValueMember
706 Categories of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
707 Financial assets, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsCategoryMember
708 Fair value through profit or loss Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossCategoryMember
709 Available-for-sale Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAvailableforsaleCategoryMember
710 Disclosure of fair value measurement of assets [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFairValueMeasurementOfAssetsLineItems
711 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
712 Financial assets, at fair value Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAtFairValue
713 Invested assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:InvestedAssets
714 Investment properties Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:InvestmentProperty
715 Other invested assets - non-financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:OtherNonfinancialAssets
716 2413403 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income - Narrative (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/TotalInvestedAssetsAndRelatedNetInvestmentIncomeNarrativeDetails
717 Disclosure Of Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities [Table] Table

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 slf:DisclosureOfFairValueMeasurementOfAssetsAndLiabilitiesTable
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719 Scenario [Domain] Member slf:ScenarioDomain
720 Scenario, Forecast Member slf:ScenarioForecast1Member
721 Valuation techniques used in fair value measurement [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ValuationTechniquesUsedInFairValueMeasurementAxis
722 Valuation techniques [member] Member ifrs-full:ValuationTechniquesMember
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724 Classes of assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfAssetsAxis
725 Assets [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfAssetsMember
726 Investment property Member slf:InvestmentPropertiesMember
727 Categories of financial liabilities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfFinancialLiabilitiesAxis
728 Financial liabilities, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesCategoryMember
729 Measured at fair value Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossCategoryMember
730 Categories of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
731 Financial assets, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsCategoryMember
732 Fair value through profit or loss Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossCategoryMember
733 Types of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
734 Financial assets, type [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsTypeMember
735 Collateral associated with securities lending Member slf:SecuritiesLendingCollateralMember
736 Classes of financial liabilities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialLiabilitiesAxis
737 Financial liabilities, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesMember
738 Securitized mortgages Member slf:SecuritizedMortgagesMember
739 Types of investment property [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfInvestmentPropertyAxis
740 Investment properties Member ifrs-full:InvestmentPropertyMember
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742 Industrial properties Member slf:IndustrialPropertiesMember
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744 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
745 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
746 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
747 Weighted average Member ifrs-full:WeightedAverageMember
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751 Asset-backed securities Member ifrs-full:AssetbackedFinancingsMember
752 Mortgages Member ifrs-full:MortgagesMember
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764 Level 3 Member ifrs-full:Level3OfFairValueHierarchyMember
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766 Derivative liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:DerivativeFinancialLiabilities
767 Risk-adjusted spreads Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:RiskAdjustedSpreadSignificantUnobservableInputsAssets
768 Estimated rental value (per square foot, per annum) Concept (Decimal) For Period slf:FinancialForecastOfCashFlowsForCashGeneratingUnitSignificantUnobservableInputsAssetsPerSquareFoot
769 Rental growth rate (per annum) Concept (Percent) For Period slf:GrowthRateSignificantUnobservableInputsAssets
770 Long-term vacancy rate Concept (Percent) For Period slf:LongTermVacancyRateSignificantUnobservableInputsAssets
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772 Discount rate Concept (Percent) For Period slf:DiscountRateSignificantUnobservableInputsAssets
773 Terminal capitalization rate Concept (Percent) For Period slf:TerminalCapitalizationRateSignificantUnobservableInputsAssets
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775 Reclassification adjustments on cash flow hedges, before tax Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ReclassificationAdjustmentsOnCashFlowHedgesBeforeTax
776 Gain on hedge ineffectiveness recognized in accumulated OCI Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainLossOnHedgeIneffectivenessRecognisedInOtherComprehensiveIncome
777 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
778 Financial liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilities
779 Financial liabilities, at fair value Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesAtFairValue
780 Repurchase agreement maturity period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:AssetsSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseMaturityPeriod
781 Repurchase agreement interest rate Concept (Percent) For Period slf:AssetsSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseInterestRate1
782 Financial assets, at fair value Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAtFairValue
783 Carrying value of securities lent Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:RepurchaseAgreementsAndCashCollateralOnSecuritiesLent
784 Related collateral Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:ReverseRepurchaseAgreementsAndCashCollateralOnSecuritiesBorrowed
785 Cash collateral held on securities Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:CashCollateralOnSecurities
786 2413404 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income - Assets and Liabilities Carried at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis by Hierarchy (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/TotalInvestedAssetsAndRelatedNetInvestmentIncomeAssetsAndLiabilitiesCarriedAtFairValueOnRecurringBasisByHierarchyDetails
787 Disclosure Of Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities [Table] Table

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 slf:DisclosureOfFairValueMeasurementOfAssetsAndLiabilitiesTable
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791 Debt securities Member ifrs-full:DebtSecuritiesMember
792 Equity securities Member ifrs-full:OtherEquitySecuritiesMember
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799 Financial assets, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsCategoryMember
800 Fair value through profit or loss Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossCategoryMember
801 Available-for-sale Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAvailableforsaleCategoryMember
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830 2413405 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income - Reconciliation of Assets Categorized in Level 3 (Details) Network

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831 Disclosure of fair value measurement of assets [table] Table

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870 2413406 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income - Interest and Other Investment Income (Details) Network

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871 Implied Table Table

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875 Debt securities – available-for-sale Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:InterestIncomeOnAvailableforsaleFinancialAssets
876 Mortgages and loans Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:InterestIncomeOnLoansAndAdvancesToCustomers
877 Derivative investments Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:InterestIncomeOnDerivativeInstruments
878 Policy loans Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:InterestIncomeOnPolicyLoans
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886 Net investment income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:InterestAndInvestmentIncome
887 2413407 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income - Changes in Asset Fair Value and Currency Change (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/TotalInvestedAssetsAndRelatedNetInvestmentIncomeChangesInAssetFairValueAndCurrencyChangeDetails
888 Disclosure of fair value measurement of assets [table] Table

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898 Fair value changes on investment properties Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:IncreaseDecreaseInAssetFairValueInvestmentProperty
899 Foreign exchange gains (losses) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesOnExchangeDifferencesOnTranslationRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
900 Realized gains (losses) on property and equipment Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesOnDisposalsOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
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902 Gain on sale of operating lease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:GainLossonTerminationofLease
903 2413408 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income - Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Securities (Details) Network

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904 Implied Table Table

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907 Cash equivalents Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CashEquivalents
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910 Less: Bank overdraft, recorded in Other liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:BankOverdraftsClassifiedAsCashEquivalents
911 Net cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:CashCashEquivalentsAndCurrentInvestmentsNet
912 2413410 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income - Fair Values of Derivative Financial Instruments by Major Class (Details) Network

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913 Disclosure of financial assets [table] Table

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927 Financial liabilities, at fair value Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesAtFairValue
928 2413411 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income - Fair Values of Derivative Financial Instruments by Type of Hedge (Details) Network

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929 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [table] Table

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940 2413412 - Disclosure - Total Invested Assets and Related Net Investment Income - Hedge Ineffectiveness (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/TotalInvestedAssetsAndRelatedNetInvestmentIncomeHedgeIneffectivenessDetails
941 Implied Table Table

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944 Gains (losses) on the hedging derivatives Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesOnHedgingInstrument
945 Net ineffectiveness on fair value hedges Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesOnIneffectivenessOfCashFlowHedgesRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
946 2416402 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Maximum Exposure to Credit Risk (Details) Network

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947 Disclosure of credit risk exposure [table] Table

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957 2416403 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Right of Offset and Collateral (Details) Network

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958 Disclosure of offsetting of financial assets [table] Table

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980 Financial instruments subject to enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement not set off against financial liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialInstrumentsSubjectToEnforceableMasterNettingArrangementOrSimilarAgreementNotSetOffAgainstFinancialLiabilities
981 Financial collateral pledged Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CashCollateralPledgedSubjectToEnforceableMasterNettingArrangementOrSimilarAgreementNotSetOffAgainstFinancialLiabilities
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985 2416404 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Debt Securities by Geographic Location (Details) Network

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986 Disclosure of geographical areas [table] Table

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1002 2416405 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Debt Securities by Issuer and Industry Sector (Details) Network

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1003 Disclosure of financial assets [table] Table

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1033 2416406 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Mortgages and Loans by Geographic Location and Type (Details) Network

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1034 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [table] Table

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1059 2416407 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Contractual and Scheduled Maturities of Debt Securities, Mortgages, and Loans (Details) Network

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1060 Disclosure of maturity analysis for financial assets held for managing liquidity risk [table] Table

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1083 2416408 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Notional Amount of Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) Network

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1084 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [table] Table

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 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsTable
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1115 2416409 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Fair Value of Derivative Instruments (Details) Network

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1116 Disclosure of maturity analysis for derivative financial liabilities [table] Table

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1118 Financial assets, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsCategoryMember
1119 Measured at fair value Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossCategoryMember
1120 Categories of financial liabilities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfFinancialLiabilitiesAxis
1121 Financial liabilities, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesCategoryMember
1122 Measured at fair value Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossCategoryMember
1123 Maturity [axis] Axis ifrs-full:MaturityAxis
1124 Aggregated time bands [member] Member ifrs-full:AggregatedTimeBandsMember
1125 Under 1 Year Member ifrs-full:NotLaterThanOneYearMember
1126 1 to 5 Years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanOneYearAndNotLaterThanFiveYearsMember
1127 Over 5 Years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanFiveYearsMember
1128 Disclosure of maturity analysis for derivative financial liabilities [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfMaturityAnalysisForDerivativeFinancialLiabilitiesLineItems
1129 Derivative assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:DerivativeFinancialAssets
1130 Derivative liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:DerivativeFinancialLiabilities
1131 2416410 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/FinancialInstrumentRiskManagementNarrativeDetails
1132 Disclosure of financial assets [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialAssetsTable
1133 Classes of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1134 Financial assets, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsMember
1135 Debt securities Member ifrs-full:DebtSecuritiesMember
1136 Categories of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1137 Financial assets, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsCategoryMember
1138 Available-for-sale Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAvailableforsaleCategoryMember
1139 Disclosure of financial assets [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialAssetsLineItems
1140 Percent of debt security portfolio considered investment grade Concept (Percent) For Period slf:RiskExposureAssociatedWithInstrumentsSharingCharacteristicConcentrationPercentage
1141 Impairment loss on available-for-sale assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossOnFinancialAssets
1142 Reversal of impairment Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ReversalOfImpairmentLoss
1143 2416411 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Debt Securities by Credit Rating (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/FinancialInstrumentRiskManagementDebtSecuritiesByCreditRatingDetails
1144 Disclosure of external credit grades [table] Table

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*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfExternalCreditExposuresTable
1145 Categories of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1146 Financial assets, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsCategoryMember
1147 Fair value through profit or loss Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossCategoryMember
1148 Available-for-sale Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAvailableforsaleCategoryMember
1149 Classes of financial instruments [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsAxis
1150 Financial instruments, class [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsMember
1151 Debt securities Member ifrs-full:DebtSecuritiesMember
1152 Types of risks [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksAxis
1153 Risks [member] Member ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksMember
1154 Credit risk Member ifrs-full:CreditRiskMember
1155 External credit grades [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ExternalCreditGradesAxis
1156 Entity's total for external credit grades [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForExternalCreditGradesMember
1157 AAA Member slf:AAARatingMember
1158 AA Member slf:AARatingMember
1159 A Member slf:ARatingMember
1160 BBB Member slf:BBBRatingMember
1161 BB and lower Member slf:BBRatingAndLowerMember
1162 Disclosure of external credit grades [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfExternalCreditExposuresLineItems
1163 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
1164 2416412 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Mortgages and Loans by Credit Rating (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/FinancialInstrumentRiskManagementMortgagesAndLoansByCreditRatingDetails
1165 Disclosure of external credit grades [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfExternalCreditExposuresTable
1166 Classes of financial instruments [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsAxis
1167 Financial instruments, class [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsMember
1168 Mortgages Member ifrs-full:MortgagesMember
1169 Loans Member ifrs-full:LoanCommitmentsMember
1170 Types of risks [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksAxis
1171 Risks [member] Member ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksMember
1172 Credit risk Member ifrs-full:CreditRiskMember
1173 External credit grades [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ExternalCreditGradesAxis
1174 Entity's total for external credit grades [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForExternalCreditGradesMember
1175 Insured Member slf:InsuredRatingMember
1176 AAA Member slf:AAARatingMember
1177 AA Member slf:AARatingMember
1178 A Member slf:ARatingMember
1179 BBB Member slf:BBBRatingMember
1180 BB and lower Member slf:BBRatingAndLowerMember
1181 Impaired Member slf:ImpairedRatingMember
1182 Disclosure of external credit grades [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfExternalCreditExposuresLineItems
1183 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
1184 2416413 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Derivative Financial Instruments by Counterparty Credit Rating (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/FinancialInstrumentRiskManagementDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsByCounterpartyCreditRatingDetails
1185 Disclosure of external credit grades [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfExternalCreditExposuresTable
1186 Classes of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1187 Financial assets, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsMember
1188 Derivative assets Member ifrs-full:DerivativesMember
1189 Types of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1190 Financial assets, type [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsTypeMember
1191 Over-the-counter derivative contracts Member slf:DerivativeInstrumentsOverTheCounterContractsMember
1192 Exchange-traded derivative contracts Member slf:DerivativeInstrumentsExchangeTradedContractsMember
1193 Types of risks [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksAxis
1194 Risks [member] Member ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksMember
1195 Credit risk Member ifrs-full:CreditRiskMember
1196 Carrying amount, accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment and gross carrying amount [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CarryingAmountAccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentAndGrossCarryingAmountAxis
1197 Carrying amount [member] Member ifrs-full:CarryingAmountMember
1198 Gross positive replacement cost Member slf:GrossPositiveReplacementCostMember
1199 Impact of master netting agreements Member slf:ImpactOfMasterNettingAgreementsMember
1200 Net replacement cost Member slf:NetReplacementCostMember
1201 External credit grades [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ExternalCreditGradesAxis
1202 Entity's total for external credit grades [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForExternalCreditGradesMember
1203 AA Member slf:AARatingMember
1204 A Member slf:ARatingMember
1205 BBB Member slf:BBBRatingMember
1206 Disclosure of external credit grades [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfExternalCreditExposuresLineItems
1207 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
1208 2416414 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Credit Default Swaps by Underlying Financial Instrument Credit Rating (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/FinancialInstrumentRiskManagementCreditDefaultSwapsByUnderlyingFinancialInstrumentCreditRatingDetails
1209 Disclosure of external credit grades [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfExternalCreditExposuresTable
1210 Types of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1211 Financial assets, type [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsTypeMember
1212 Single name CDS contracts Member slf:SingleNameCreditDefaultSwapContractMember
1213 CDS index contracts Member slf:CreditDefaultSwapIndexContractMember
1214 External credit grades [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ExternalCreditGradesAxis
1215 Entity's total for external credit grades [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForExternalCreditGradesMember
1216 AA Member slf:AARatingMember
1217 A Member slf:ARatingMember
1218 BBB Member slf:BBBRatingMember
1219 Classes of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1220 Financial assets, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsMember
1221 Credit default swap contract Member ifrs-full:SwapContractMember
1222 Disclosure of external credit grades [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfExternalCreditExposuresLineItems
1223 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
1224 Financial assets, at fair value Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAtFairValue
1225 2416415 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Reinsurance Counterparties Exposure by Credit Rating (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/FinancialInstrumentRiskManagementReinsuranceCounterpartiesExposureByCreditRatingDetails
1226 Disclosure of external credit grades [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfExternalCreditExposuresTable
1227 Types of risks [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksAxis
1228 Risks [member] Member ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksMember
1229 Credit risk Member ifrs-full:CreditRiskMember
1230 Carrying amount, accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment and gross carrying amount [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CarryingAmountAccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentAndGrossCarryingAmountAxis
1231 Carrying amount [member] Member ifrs-full:CarryingAmountMember
1232 Gross exposure Member slf:GrossExposureMember
1233 Collateral Member slf:CollateralMember
1234 Net exposure Member slf:NetExposureMember
1235 External credit grades [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ExternalCreditGradesAxis
1236 Entity's total for external credit grades [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForExternalCreditGradesMember
1237 AA Member slf:AARatingMember
1238 A Member slf:ARatingMember
1239 BBB Member slf:BBBRatingMember
1240 BB Member slf:BBRatingMember
1241 B Member slf:BRatingMember
1242 CCC Member slf:CCCRatingMember
1243 Not rated Member slf:NotRatedMember
1244 Classes of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1245 Financial assets, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsMember
1246 Reinsurance Assets Member slf:ReinsuranceAssetsMember
1247 Disclosure of external credit grades [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfExternalCreditExposuresLineItems
1248 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
1249 Less: negative reinsurance assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:ReinsuranceNegativeReserves
1250 Total Reinsurance assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:ReinsuranceAssets
1251 2416416 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Past Due and Impaired Mortgages and Loans (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/FinancialInstrumentRiskManagementPastDueAndImpairedMortgagesAndLoansDetails
1252 Disclosure of financial assets that are either past due or impaired [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialAssetsThatAreEitherPastDueOrImpairedTable
1253 Classes of financial instruments [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsAxis
1254 Financial instruments, class [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsMember
1255 Mortgages Member ifrs-full:MortgagesMember
1256 Loans Member ifrs-full:LoanCommitmentsMember
1257 Mortgages and loans Member slf:MortgagesAndLoansMember
1258 Impairment of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ImpairmentOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1259 Entity's total for impairment of financial assets [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForImpairmentOfFinancialAssetsMember
1260 Not past due Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsNeitherPastDueNorImpairedMember
1261 Past due Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsPastDueButNotImpairedMember
1262 Impaired Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsImpairedMember
1263 Carrying amount, accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment and gross carrying amount [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CarryingAmountAccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentAndGrossCarryingAmountAxis
1264 Carrying amount [member] Member ifrs-full:CarryingAmountMember
1265 Gross carrying value Member ifrs-full:GrossCarryingAmountMember
1266 Allowance for losses Member ifrs-full:AllowanceForCreditLossesMember
1267 Types of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1268 Financial assets, type [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsTypeMember
1269 Allowance for losses Member ifrs-full:AllowanceForCreditLossesMember
1270 Past due status [axis] Axis ifrs-full:PastDueStatusAxis
1271 Past due status [member] Member ifrs-full:PastDueStatusMember
1272 Past due less than 90 days Member slf:PastDueLessThanNinetyDaysMember
1273 Later than three months [member] Member ifrs-full:LaterThanThreeMonthsMember
1274 Disclosure of financial assets that are either past due or impaired [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialAssetsThatAreEitherPastDueOrImpairedLineItems
1275 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
1276 2416417 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Changes in Allowances for Losses (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/FinancialInstrumentRiskManagementChangesInAllowancesForLossesDetails
1277 Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in loss allowance and explanation of changes in gross carrying amount for financial instruments [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInLossAllowanceAndExplanationOfChangesInGrossCarryingAmountForFinancialInstrumentsTable
1278 Classes of financial instruments [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsAxis
1279 Financial instruments, class [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialInstrumentsMember
1280 Mortgages Member ifrs-full:MortgagesMember
1281 Loans Member ifrs-full:LoanCommitmentsMember
1282 Mortgages and loans Member slf:MortgagesAndLoansMember
1283 Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in loss allowance and explanation of changes in gross carrying amount for financial instruments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInLossAllowanceAndExplanationOfChangesInGrossCarryingAmountForFinancialInstrumentsLineItems
1284 Reconciliation of changes in allowance account for credit losses of financial assets [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ReconciliationOfChangesInAllowanceAccountForCreditLossesOfFinancialAssetsAbstract
1285 Allowance account for credit losses of financial assets, beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:AllowanceAccountForCreditLossesOfFinancialAssets
1286 Provision for (reversal of) losses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:UtilisationAllowanceAccountForCreditLossesOfFinancialAssets
1287 Write-offs, net of recoveries, and other adjustments Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughOtherChangesAllowanceAccountForCreditLossesOfFinancialAssets
1288 Foreign exchange rate movements Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferencesAllowanceAccountForCreditLossesOfFinancialAssets
1289 Allowance account for credit losses of financial assets, ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:AllowanceAccountForCreditLossesOfFinancialAssets
1290 2416418 - Disclosure - Financial Instrument Risk Management - Equities by Issuer Country (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/FinancialInstrumentRiskManagementEquitiesByIssuerCountryDetails
1291 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsTable
1292 Geographical areas [axis] Axis ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasAxis
1293 Geographical areas [member] Member ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasMember
1294 Canada Member country:CA
1295 United States Member country:US
1296 United Kingdom Member country:GB
1297 Other countries Member slf:OtherCountriesMember
1298 Classes of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1299 Financial assets, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsMember
1300 Other invested assets Member ifrs-full:OtherEquitySecuritiesMember
1301 Categories of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1302 Financial assets, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsCategoryMember
1303 Available-for-sale Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAvailableforsaleCategoryMember
1304 Fair value through profit or loss Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossCategoryMember
1305 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsLineItems
1306 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
1307 2417403 - Disclosure - Risk Categories - Interest Rate and Equity Market Sensitivities (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/RiskCategoriesInterestRateAndEquityMarketSensitivitiesDetails
1308 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsTable
1309 Range [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangeAxis
1310 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
1311 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
1312 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
1313 Types of risks [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksAxis
1314 Risks [member] Member ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksMember
1315 Interest rate risk Member ifrs-full:InterestRateRiskMember
1316 Equity price risk Member ifrs-full:EquityPriceRiskMember
1317 Types of interest rates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfInterestRatesAxis
1318 Interest rate types [member] Member ifrs-full:InterestRateTypesMember
1319 Floating interest rate Member ifrs-full:FloatingInterestRateMember
1320 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsLineItems
1321 Reasonably possible 100 basis point change in risk variable Concept (Percent) For Period slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleOneHundredBasisPointChangeInRiskVariablePercent
1322 Reasonably possible 50 basis point change in risk variable Concept (Percent) For Period slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleFiftyBasisPointChangeInRiskVariablePercent
1323 Reasonably possible 25% change in risk variable Concept (Percent) For Period slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleTwentyFivePercentChangeInRiskVariablePercent
1324 Reasonably possible 10% change in risk variable Concept (Percent) For Period slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleTenPercentChangeInRiskVariablePercent
1325 Interest Rate Sensitivity, Potential Impact On Net Income [Abstract] Abstract slf:InterestRateSensitivityPotentialImpactOnNetIncomeAbstract
1326 100 basis point decrease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleOneHundredBasisPointDecreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1327 50 basis point decrease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleFiftyBasisPointDecreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1328 50 basis point increase Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleFiftyBasisPointIncreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1329 100 basis point increase Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleOneHundredBasisPointIncreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1330 Interest Rate Sensitivity, Potential Impact On Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Abstract slf:InterestRateSensitivityPotentialImpactOnOtherComprehensiveIncomeAbstract
1331 100 basis point decrease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleOneHundredBasisPointDecreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnOtherComprehensiveIncome
1332 50 basis point decrease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleFiftyBasisPointDecreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnOtherComprehensiveIncome
1333 50 basis point increase Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleFiftyBasisPointIncreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnOtherComprehensiveIncome
1334 100 basis point increase Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleOneHundredBasisPointIncreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnOtherComprehensiveIncome
1335 Equity Market Sensitivity, Potential Impact On Net Income [Abstract] Abstract slf:EquityMarketSensitivityPotentialImpactOnNetIncomeAbstract
1336 25% decrease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleTwentyFivePercentDecreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1337 10% decrease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleTenPercentDecreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1338 10% increase Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleTenPercentIncreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1339 25% increase Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleTwentyFivePercentIncreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1340 Equity Markets Sensitivity, Potential Impact On Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Abstract slf:EquityMarketsSensitivityPotentialImpactOnOtherComprehensiveIncomeAbstract
1341 25% decrease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleTwentyFivePercentDecreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnOtherComprehensiveIncome
1342 10% decrease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleTenPercentDecreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnOtherComprehensiveIncome
1343 10% increase Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleTenPercentIncreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnOtherComprehensiveIncome
1344 25% increase Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleTwentyFivePercentIncreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnOtherComprehensiveIncome
1345 Level of rounding used in sensitivity analysis Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:LevelOfRoundingUsedInSensitivityAnalysis
1346 Interval to determine impact of re-balancing interest rate hedges for dynamic hedging programs Concept (Percent) For Period slf:SensitivityAnalysisInputInterestRateHedgesInterval
1347 Interval to determine impact of re-balancing equity hedges for dynamic hedging programs Concept (Percent) For Period slf:SensitivityAnalysisInputEquityHedgesInterval
1348 Equity hedge interval Concept (Percent) For Period slf:SensitivityAnalysisInputEquityHedgesIntervalChangeInEquityMarkets
1349 2417404 - Disclosure - Risk Categories - Credit and Swap Spread Sensitivities (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/RiskCategoriesCreditAndSwapSpreadSensitivitiesDetails
1350 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsTable
1351 Types of risks [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksAxis
1352 Risks [member] Member ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksMember
1353 Credit spread sensitivities Member ifrs-full:CreditRiskMember
1354 Swap spread sensitivities Member slf:SwapSpreadRiskMember
1355 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsLineItems
1356 Reasonably possible change in risk variable Concept (Percent) For Period slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfCreditRiskReasonablyPossibleChangeInRiskVariablePercent
1357 Reasonably possible change in risk variable Concept (Percent) For Period slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfSwapSpreadRiskReasonablyPossibleChangeInRiskVariablePercent
1358 Credit Spread Sensitivities [Abstract] Abstract slf:CreditSpreadSensitivitiesAbstract
1359 50 basis point decrease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfCreditRiskReasonablyPossibleFiftyBasisPointDecreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1360 50 basis point increase Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfCreditRiskReasonablyPossibleFiftyBasisPointIncreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1361 Swap Spread Sensitivities [Abstract] Abstract slf:SwapSpreadSensitivitiesAbstract
1362 20 basis point decrease Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfSwapSpreadRiskReasonablyPossibleTwentyBasisPointDecreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1363 20 basis point increase Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfSwapSpreadRiskReasonablyPossibleTwentyBasisPointIncreaseInRiskVariableImpactOnProfitLoss
1364 Level of rounding used in sensitivity analysis Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:LevelOfRoundingUsedInSensitivityAnalysis
1365 Period after which credit spread reverts to long-term insurance contract liability Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:CreditSpreadReversionToLongTermInsuranceContractLiabilityPeriod
1366 2417405 - Disclosure - Risk Categories - Financial Liabilities and Contractual Obligations (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/RiskCategoriesFinancialLiabilitiesAndContractualObligationsDetails
1367 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsTable
1368 Classes of financial liabilities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialLiabilitiesAxis
1369 Financial liabilities, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesMember
1370 Insurance and investment contract liabilities Member slf:InsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesMember
1371 Senior debentures and unsecured financing Member slf:SeniorDebenturesAndUnsecuredFinancingMember
1372 Subordinated Debt Member slf:SubordinatedLiabilitiesMember
1373 Bond repurchase agreements Member slf:BondRepurchaseAgreementsMember
1374 Accounts payable and accrued expenses Member slf:AccountsPayableAndAccruedExpensesMember
1375 Secured borrowings from mortgage securitization Member slf:SecuredBorrowingsFromMortgageSecuritizationMember
1376 Borrowed funds Member slf:BorrowedFundsMember
1377 Maturity [axis] Axis ifrs-full:MaturityAxis
1378 Aggregated time bands [member] Member ifrs-full:AggregatedTimeBandsMember
1379 Under 1 Year Member ifrs-full:NotLaterThanOneYearMember
1380 1 year to 3 years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanOneYearAndNotLaterThanThreeYearsMember
1381 3 years to 5 years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanThreeYearsAndNotLaterThanFiveYearsMember
1382 Over 5 years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanFiveYearsMember
1383 Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialInstrumentsLineItems
1384 Non-derivative financial liabilities, undiscounted cash flows Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:NonderivativeFinancialLiabilitiesUndiscountedCashFlows
1385 Contractual loans, equities and mortgages Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:ContractualLoansEquitiesAndMortgages
1386 Operating leases Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:MinimumLeasePaymentsPayableUnderNoncancellableOperatingLease
1387 Total contractual commitments Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:ContractualCapitalCommitments
1388 2419401 - Disclosure - Insurance Risk Management - Narrative (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InsuranceRiskManagementNarrativeDetails
1389 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsTable
1390 Types of risks [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksAxis
1391 Risks [member] Member ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksMember
1392 Mortality Risk Member slf:MortalityRiskMember
1393 Morbidity Risk Member slf:MorbidityRiskMember
1394 Longevity Risk Member slf:LongevityRiskMember
1395 Policyholder Behaviour Risk Member slf:PolicyholderBehaviourRiskMember
1396 Expense Risk Member slf:ExpenseRiskMember
1397 Types of insurance contracts [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfInsuranceContractsAxis
1398 Types of insurance contracts [member] Member ifrs-full:InsuranceContractsMember
1399 Single Life Insurance Contracts In Canada Member slf:SingleLifeInsuranceContractsInCanadaMember
1400 Single Life Insurance Contracts Outside Of Canada Member slf:SingleLifeInsuranceContractsOutsideOfCanadaMember
1401 Survivorship Life Insurance Contracts In Canada Member slf:SurvivorshipLifeInsuranceContractsInCanadaMember
1402 Survivorship Life Insurance Contracts Outside Of Canada Member slf:SurvivorshipLifeInsuranceContractsOutsideOfCanadaMember
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1407 Individual Life Insurance Contracts Where More Terminations Are Financially Adverse Member slf:IndividualLifeInsuranceContractsWhereMoreTerminationsAreFinanciallyAdverseMember
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1409 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsLineItems
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1411 Reasonably possible increase (decrease) in risk variable, percent Concept (Percent) For Period slf:SensitivityAnalysisToInsuranceRiskReasonablyPossibleChangeInRiskVariablePercent
1412 Increase (decrease) in net income due to change in corresponding risk variable Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisToInsuranceRiskReasonablyPossibleChangeInRiskVariableImpactonProfitLoss
1413 Increase (decrease) in equity due to change in corresponding risk variable Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:SensitivityAnalysisToInsuranceRiskReasonablyPossibleChangeInRiskVariableImpactonEquity
1414 2422402 - Disclosure - Other Assets - Schedule of Other Assets (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/OtherAssetsScheduleOfOtherAssetsDetails
1415 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1416 Subclassifications of assets, liabilities and equities [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:SubclassificationsOfAssetsLiabilitiesAndEquitiesAbstract
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1418 Investment income due and accrued Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:AccruedIncome
1419 Property and equipment Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:PropertyPlantAndEquipment
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1421 Prepaid expenses Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:Prepayments
1422 Premium receivable Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:PremiumsReceivableAtCarryingValue1
1423 Accrued benefit assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:RecognisedAssetsDefinedBenefitPlan
1424 Other Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:OtherAssetsOther
1425 Other assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:OtherAssets
1426 Amortization expense, deferred acquisition costs Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:AmortisationDeferredAcquisitionCostsArisingFromInsuranceAndInvestmentContracts
1427 2425402 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Goodwill Acquired by Segment (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsGoodwillAcquiredBySegmentDetails
1428 Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillTable
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1439 Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillLineItems
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1444 Balance, Ending Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsAndGoodwill
1445 2425403 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Goodwill Allocated to CGUs (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsGoodwillAllocatedToCgusDetails
1446 Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillTable
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1450 Valuation techniques used in fair value measurement [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ValuationTechniquesUsedInFairValueMeasurementAxis
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1453 Income approach Member ifrs-full:IncomeApproachMember
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1455 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
1456 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
1457 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
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1471 Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillLineItems
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1477 CGU discount rate Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:DescriptionOfDiscountRatesAppliedToCashFlowProjections
1478 2425404 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Changes in Intangible Assets (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsChangesInIntangibleAssetsDetails
1479 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsTable
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1483 Finite life, Other Member ifrs-full:OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
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1485 Intangible assets with indefinite useful life [member] Member ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsWithIndefiniteUsefulLifeMember
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1488 Carrying amount [member] Member ifrs-full:CarryingAmountMember
1489 Gross carrying amount Member ifrs-full:GrossCarryingAmountMember
1490 Accumulated amortization and impairment losses Member ifrs-full:AccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentMember
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1492 Segments [member] Member ifrs-full:SegmentsMember
1493 SLF Asset Management Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAssetManagementMember
1494 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsLineItems
1495 Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets other than goodwill [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ReconciliationOfChangesInIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwillAbstract
1496 Intangible assets, beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
1497 Additions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdditionsOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationsIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
1498 Acquisitions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AcquisitionsThroughBusinessCombinationsIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
1499 Disposals, intangible assets other than goodwill Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:DisposalsIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
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1502 Amortization charge for the year Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:AmortisationIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
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1504 Consideration received Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProceedsFromSalesOfIntangibleAssetsClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
1505 2425405 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Components of Intangible Assets (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsComponentsOfIntangibleAssetsDetails
1506 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsTable
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1514 Intangible assets with indefinite useful life [member] Member ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsWithIndefiniteUsefulLifeMember
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1517 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsLineItems
1518 Intangible assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
1519 2428402 - Disclosure - Insurance Contract Liabilities and Investment Contract Liabilities - Insurance Contract and Other Policy Liabilities (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesInsuranceContractAndOtherPolicyLiabilitiesDetails
1520 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsTable
1521 Geographical areas [axis] Axis ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasAxis
1522 Geographical areas [member] Member ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasMember
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1525 Segments [member] Member ifrs-full:SegmentsMember
1526 SLF Canada Member slf:SunLifeCanadaMember
1527 SLF U.S. Member slf:SunLifeFinancialUnitedStatesMember
1528 SLF Asia Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAsiaMember
1529 Corporate Member slf:SunLifeFinancialCorporateMember
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1538 Policy liabilities Member slf:OtherPolicyLiabilitiesMember
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1540 Insurance contract liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilitiesArisingFromInsuranceContracts
1541 2428403 - Disclosure - Insurance Contract Liabilities and Investment Contract Liabilities - Changes in Insurance Contract Liabilities and Reinsurance Assets (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesChangesInInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsDetails
1542 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsTable
1543 Products and services [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ProductsAndServicesAxis
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1546 Other policy liabilities and assets Member slf:OtherPolicyLiabilitiesAndAssetsMember
1547 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsLineItems
1548 Reconciliation of changes in liabilities under insurance contracts and reinsurance contracts issued [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ReconciliationOfChangesInLiabilitiesUnderInsuranceContractsAndReinsuranceContractsIssuedAbstract
1549 Insurance contract liabilities Abstract ifrs-full:LiabilitiesUnderInsuranceContractsAndReinsuranceContractsIssuedAbstract
1550 Insurance contract liabilities, beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilitiesArisingFromInsuranceContracts
1551 Insurance contract liabilities, change in balances on in-force policies Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:NetInvestmentContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsChangeInBalancesOnInForcePoliciesLiabilitiesUnderInvestmentContracts
1552 Insurance contract liabilities, balances arising from new policies Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:AdditionsLiabilitiesUnderInsuranceContractsAndReinsuranceContractsIssued
1553 Insurance contract liabilities, method and assumption changes Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsIncreaseDecreaseThroughMethodAndAssumptionChangesLiabilitiesUnderInsuranceContractsAndReinsuranceContractsIssued
1554 Insurance contract liabilities, increase (decrease) in Insurance contract liabilities and Reinsurance assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:NetInvestmentContractLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseInLiabilitiesUnderInvestmentContractsExcludingAcquisitionsAndForeignExchangeRateMovements
1555 Insurance contract liabilities, foreign exchange rate movements Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferencesLiabilitiesUnderInsuranceContractsAndReinsuranceContractsIssued
1556 Insurance contract liabilities, ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilitiesArisingFromInsuranceContracts
1557 Reinsurance assets Abstract ifrs-full:ChangesInReinsuranceAssetsAbstract
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1559 Reinsurance assets, change in balances on in-force policies Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsChangeInBalancesOnInForcePoliciesReinsuranceAssets
1560 Reinsurance assets, change in balances arising from new policies Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsChangeInBalancesArisingFromNewPoliciesReinsuranceAssets
1561 Reinsurance assets, method and assumption changes Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsIncreaseDecreaseThroughMethodAndAssumptionChangesReinsuranceAssets
1562 Reinsurance assets, increase (decrease) in Insurance contract liabilities and Reinsurance assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsIncreaseDecreaseInReinsuranceAssetsExcludingAcquisitionsAndForeignExchangeRateMovements
1563 Reinsurance assets, foreign exchange rate movements Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferencesReinsuranceAssets
1564 Reinsurance assets, ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:ReinsuranceAssets
1565 Net Changes In Insurance Contract Liabilities And Reinsurance Assets [Abstract] Abstract slf:NetChangesInInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsAbstract
1566 Net insurance contract liabilities and reinsurance assets, beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssets
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1568 Net balance arising from new policies Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsNetIncreaseThroughNewPolicies
1569 Net method and assumption change Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsNetIncreaseDecreaseThroughMethodAndAssumptionChanges
1570 Net increase (decrease) in Insurance contract liabilities and Reinsurance assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsNetIncreaseDecreaseExcludingAcquisitionsAndForeignExchangeRateMovements
1571 Net foreign exchange rate movement Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsNetIncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferences
1572 Net insurance contract liabilities and reinsurance assets, ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:NetInsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssets
1573 2428404 - Disclosure - Insurance Contract Liabilities and Investment Contract Liabilities - Impact of Method and Assumption Changes (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesImpactOfMethodAndAssumptionChangesDetails
1574 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsTable
1575 Actuarial assumptions [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionsAxis
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1578 Lapse and other policyholder behaviour Member slf:ActuarialAssumptionOfLapseAndOtherPolicyholderBehaviourMember
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1580 Investment returns Member slf:ActuarialAssumptionOfInvestmentReturnsMember
1581 Model enhancements and other Member slf:ActuarialAssumptionOfModelEnhancementsAndOtherMember
1582 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsLineItems
1583 Net increase (decrease) before income taxes Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceLiabilitiesNetOfReinsurance
1584 2428405 - Disclosure - Insurance Contract Liabilities and Investment Contract Liabilities - Investment Contract Liabilities (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesInvestmentContractLiabilitiesDetails
1585 Disclosure of financial liabilities [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialLiabilitiesTable
1586 Segments [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SegmentsAxis
1587 Segments [member] Member ifrs-full:SegmentsMember
1588 SLF Canada Member slf:SunLifeCanadaMember
1589 SLF U.S. Member slf:SunLifeFinancialUnitedStatesMember
1590 SLF Asia Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAsiaMember
1591 Corporate Member slf:SunLifeFinancialCorporateMember
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1595 Investment contract liabilities without DPF Member slf:InvestmentContractsLiabilitiesWIthoutDiscretionaryParticipationFeaturesMember
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1597 Financial liabilities, category [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesCategoryMember
1598 Measured at amortized cost Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesAtAmortisedCostCategoryMember
1599 Measured at fair value Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossCategoryMember
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1607 Investment contract liabilities (Note 10) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:InvestmentContractsLiabilities
1608 2428406 - Disclosure - Insurance Contract Liabilities and Investment Contract Liabilities - Change in Investment Contract Liabilities without DPF (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesChangeInInvestmentContractLiabilitiesWithoutDpfDetails
1609 Disclosure of financial liabilities [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialLiabilitiesTable
1610 Classes of financial liabilities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialLiabilitiesAxis
1611 Financial liabilities, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesMember
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1613 Categories of financial liabilities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfFinancialLiabilitiesAxis
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1615 Measured at fair value Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesAtFairValueThroughProfitOrLossCategoryMember
1616 Measured at amortized cost Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesAtAmortisedCostCategoryMember
1617 Disclosure of financial liabilities [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialLiabilitiesLineItems
1618 Reconciliation Of Changes In Financial Liabilities [Roll Forward] Abstract slf:ReconciliationOfChangesInFinancialLiabilitiesRollForward
1619 Investment contract liabilities, beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilities
1620 Deposits Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FinancialLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseDeposits
1621 Interest Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FinancialLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseInterest
1622 Withdrawals Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FinancialLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseWithdrawals
1623 Fees Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FinancialLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseFees
1624 Other Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FinancialLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseOther
1625 Change in assumptions Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FinancialLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseChangeInAssumptions
1626 Foreign exchange rate movements Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FinancialLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseForeignExchangeRateMovements
1627 Investment contract liabilities, ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilities
1628 2428407 - Disclosure - Insurance Contract Liabilities and Investment Contract Liabilities - Change in Investment Contract Liabilities with DPF (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesChangeInInvestmentContractLiabilitiesWithDpfDetails
1629 Disclosure of financial liabilities [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialLiabilitiesTable
1630 Classes of financial liabilities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialLiabilitiesAxis
1631 Financial liabilities, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilitiesMember
1632 Investment contract liabilities with DPF Member slf:InvestmentContractsLiabilitiesWithDiscretionaryParticipationFeaturesMember
1633 Disclosure of financial liabilities [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialLiabilitiesLineItems
1634 Reconciliation Of Changes In Financial Liabilities [Roll Forward] Abstract slf:ReconciliationOfChangesInFinancialLiabilitiesRollForward
1635 Investment contract liabilities, beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilities
1636 Investment contract liabilities, change in balances on in-force policies Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:NetInvestmentContractLiabilitiesAndReinsuranceAssetsChangeInBalancesOnInForcePoliciesLiabilitiesUnderInvestmentContracts
1637 Investment contract liabilities, balances arising from new policies Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:AdditionsOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationsLiabilitiesUnderInvestmentContracts
1638 Investment contract liabilities, increase (decrease) in Insurance contract liabilities and Reinsurance assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:NetInvestmentContractLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseInLiabilitiesUnderInvestmentContractsExcludingAcquisitionsAndForeignExchangeRateMovements
1639 Investment contract liabilities, foreign exchange rate movements Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferencesLiabilitiesUnderInvestmentContracts
1640 Investment contract liabilities, ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:FinancialLiabilities
1641 2428408 - Disclosure - Insurance Contract Liabilities and Investment Contract Liabilities - Gross Claims and Benefits Paid (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesGrossClaimsAndBenefitsPaidDetails
1642 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1643 Insurance Contracts [Abstract] Abstract slf:InsuranceContractsAbstract
1644 Maturities and surrenders Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:ExpenseForPolicyholderClaimsAndBenefitsPaidWithoutReductionForReinsuranceHeldMaturitiesAndSurrenders
1645 Annuity payments Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:ExpenseForPolicyholderClaimsAndBenefitsPaidWithoutReductionForReinsuranceHeldAnnuityPayments
1646 Death and disability benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:ExpenseForPolicyholderClaimsAndBenefitsPaidWithoutReductionForReinsuranceHeldDeathAndDisabilityBenefits
1647 Health benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:ExpenseForPolicyholderClaimsAndBenefitsPaidWithoutReductionForReinsuranceHeldHealthBenefits
1648 Policyholder dividends and interest on claims and deposits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:ExpenseForPolicyholderClaimsAndBenefitsPaidWithoutReductionForReinsuranceHeldPolicyholderDividendsAndInterestOnClaimsAndDeposits
1649 Gross claims and benefits paid Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:ExpenseForPolicyholderClaimsAndBenefitsPaidWithoutReductionForReinsuranceHeld
1650 2428409 - Disclosure - Insurance Contract Liabilities and Investment Contract Liabilities - Total Assets Supporting Total Liabilities And Equity (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InsuranceContractLiabilitiesAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesTotalAssetsSupportingTotalLiabilitiesAndEquityDetails
1651 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [table] Table

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*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsTable
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1663 Equity securities Member ifrs-full:OtherEquitySecuritiesMember
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1666 Other Member slf:OtherFinancialAssetsMember
1667 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsLineItems
1668 Total general fund assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:GeneralFundAssets
1669 2431402 - Disclosure - Reinsurance - Schedule of Reinsurance Assets (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ReinsuranceScheduleOfReinsuranceAssetsDetails
1670 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsTable
1671 Classes of assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfAssetsAxis
1672 Assets [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfAssetsMember
1673 Reinsurance Assets Member slf:ReinsuranceAssetsMember
1674 Geographical areas [axis] Axis ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasAxis
1675 Geographical areas [member] Member ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasMember
1676 United Kingdom Member country:GB
1677 Segments [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SegmentsAxis
1678 Segments [member] Member ifrs-full:SegmentsMember
1679 SLF Canada Member slf:SunLifeCanadaMember
1680 SLF U.S. Member slf:SunLifeFinancialUnitedStatesMember
1681 SLF Asia Member slf:SunLifeFinancialAsiaMember
1682 Corporate Member slf:SunLifeFinancialCorporateMember
1683 Types of insurance contracts [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfInsuranceContractsAxis
1684 Types of insurance contracts [member] Member ifrs-full:InsuranceContractsMember
1685 Reinsurance assets before other policy assets Member slf:ReinsuranceAssetsBeforeOtherPolicyAssetsMember
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1687 Individual non-participating life and health Member slf:IndividualNonparticipatingLifeAndHealthMember
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1689 Individual annuities Member slf:IndividualAnnuitiesMember
1690 Group annuities Member slf:GroupAnnuitiesMember
1691 Other policy liabilities and assets Member slf:OtherPolicyAssetsMember
1692 Disclosure of types of insurance contracts [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTypesOfInsuranceContractsLineItems
1693 Total Reinsurance assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:ReinsuranceAssets
1694 Impairment loss Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
1695 2431403 - Disclosure - Reinsurance - Schedule of Reinsurance Expenses and Benefits (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ReinsuranceScheduleOfReinsuranceExpensesAndBenefitsDetails
1696 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1697 Insurance Contracts [Abstract] Abstract slf:InsuranceContractsAbstract
1698 Recovered claims and benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncomeFromContractsWithReinsurersRecoveredClaimsAndBenefits
1699 Commissions Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncomeFromContractsWithReinsurersCommissions
1700 Reserve adjustments Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncomeFromContractsWithReinsurersReserveAdjustment
1701 Operating expenses and other Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncomeFromContractsWithReinsurersOperatingExpensesAndOtherNet
1702 Reinsurance (expenses) recoveries Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncomeFromContractsWithReinsurers
1703 Profit recognized from entrance of reinsurance agreement Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesRecognisedInProfitOrLossOnBuyingReinsurance
1704 2434402 - Disclosure - Other Liabilities - Schedule of Other Liabilities (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/OtherLiabilitiesScheduleOfOtherLiabilitiesDetails
1705 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsTable
1706 Borrowings by name [axis] Axis ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameAxis
1707 Borrowings by name [member] Member ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameMember
1708 Borrowed Funds Member slf:OtherBorrowingsMember
1709 Variable Principal Floating Rate Certificate Member slf:VariablePrincipalFloatingRateCertificateMember
1710 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsLineItems
1711 Foreign exchange rate movements Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FinancialLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseForeignExchangeRateMovements
1712 Net cash flow changes Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FinancialLiabilitiesIncreaseDecreaseNetCashFlowChanges
1713 2434403 - Disclosure - Other Liabilities - Schedule of Borrowings (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/OtherLiabilitiesScheduleOfBorrowingsDetails
1714 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsTable
1715 Borrowings by name [axis] Axis ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameAxis
1716 Borrowings by name [member] Member ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameMember
1717 Encumbrances on real estate, Maturing in 2033 Member slf:EncumbranceOnRealEstateMaturingin2033Member
1718 Encumbrances on real estate in US Dollars, Maturing in 2020 Member slf:EncumbranceOnRealEstateMaturingin2020Member
1719 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsLineItems
1720 Interest expense on borrowings Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:InterestExpenseOnBorrowings
1721 Borrowed funds Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:OtherBorrowings
1722 2434404 - Disclosure - Other Liabilities - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/OtherLiabilitiesNarrativeDetails
1723 Disclosure of information about consolidated structured entities [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfInformationAboutConsolidatedStructuredEntitiesTable
1724 Borrowings by name [axis] Axis ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameAxis
1725 Borrowings by name [member] Member ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameMember
1726 Borrowed Funds Member slf:OtherBorrowingsMember
1727 Variable Principal Floating Rate Certificate Member slf:VariablePrincipalFloatingRateCertificateMember
1728 Consolidated structured entities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ConsolidatedStructuredEntitiesAxis
1729 Entity's total for consolidated structured entities [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForConsolidatedStructuredEntitiesMember
1730 Consolidated structured entities Member ifrs-full:ConsolidatedStructuredEntitiesMember
1731 Disclosure of information about consolidated structured entities [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfInformationAboutConsolidatedStructuredEntitiesLineItems
1732 Interest expense on borrowings Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:InterestExpenseOnBorrowings
1733 Proceeds from borrowings Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProceedsFromBorrowingsClassifiedAsFinancingActivities
1734 Maximum borrowing capacity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity1
1735 Borrowings term Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:BorrowingsMaturityTerm
1736 Collateral posted per financing agreement Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsPledgedAsCollateralForLiabilitiesOrContingentLiabilities
1737 Interest expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:InterestExpense
1738 Financial liabilities, at fair value Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:BorrowingsAtFairValue
1739 2437402 - Disclosure - Senior Debentures and Innovative Capital Instruments - Senior Debentures (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SeniorDebenturesAndInnovativeCapitalInstrumentsSeniorDebenturesDetails
1740 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsTable
1741 Borrowings, Redemption Period [Axis] Axis slf:BorrowingsRedemptionPeriodAxis
1742 Borrowings, Redemption Period [Domain] Member slf:BorrowingsRedemptionPeriodDomain
1743 Borrowings, Redemption Period One Member slf:BorrowingsRedemptionPeriodOneMember
1744 Borrowings, Redemption Period Two Member slf:BorrowingsRedemptionPeriodTwoMember
1745 Types of interest rates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfInterestRatesAxis
1746 Interest rate types [member] Member ifrs-full:InterestRateTypesMember
1747 Government of Canada Bond Yield Member slf:GovernmentOfCanadaBondYieldMember
1748 Five-year Government of Canada Bond Yield Member slf:FiveYearGovernmentOfCanadaBondYieldMember
1749 Borrowings by name [axis] Axis ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameAxis
1750 Borrowings by name [member] Member ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameMember
1751 SLF Inc. Series D Senior Debentures Issued June 30, 2009 Member slf:SLFInc.SeriesDSeniorDebenturesIssuedJune302009Member
1752 SLF Inc. Series E Senior Debentures Issued August 23, 2011 Member slf:SLFInc.SeriesESeniorDebenturesIssuedAugust232011Member
1753 Sun Life Assurance Series B Senior Debentures Issued June 25, 2002 Member slf:SunLifeAssuranceSeriesBSeniorDebenturesIssuedJune252002Member
1754 Sun Life Assurance Series C Senior Debentures Issued November 20, 2009 Member slf:SunLifeAssuranceSeriesCSeniorDebenturesIssuedNovember202009Member
1755 Senior Debentures Member slf:SeniorDebenturesMember
1756 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsLineItems
1757 Interest rate Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:BorrowingsInterestRate
1758 Borrowings outstanding Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Borrowings
1759 Fair value of borrowings outstanding Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:BorrowingsAtFairValue
1760 Principal amount Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:NotionalAmount
1761 Adjustment to interest rate basis Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:BorrowingsAdjustmentToInterestRateBasis
1762 Interest expense on debt instruments issued Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:InterestExpenseOnDebtInstrumentsIssued
1763 Borrowings adjusted to interest rate basis, reset term Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:BorrowingsAdjustmenttoInterestRateBasisResetTerm
1764 2437403 - Disclosure - Senior Debentures and Innovative Capital Instruments - Innovative Capital Instruments (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SeniorDebenturesAndInnovativeCapitalInstrumentsInnovativeCapitalInstrumentsDetails
1765 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsTable
1766 Borrowings, Redemption Period [Axis] Axis slf:BorrowingsRedemptionPeriodAxis
1767 Borrowings, Redemption Period [Domain] Member slf:BorrowingsRedemptionPeriodDomain
1768 Borrowings, Redemption Period One Member slf:BorrowingsRedemptionPeriodOneMember
1769 Borrowings, Redemption Period Two Member slf:BorrowingsRedemptionPeriodTwoMember
1770 Classes of share capital [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalAxis
1771 Share capital [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalMember
1772 Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares Member slf:NonCumulativePerpetualPreferenceSharesMember
1773 Capital requirements [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CapitalRequirementsAxis
1774 Capital requirements [member] Member ifrs-full:CapitalRequirementsMember
1775 Tier 1 Capital Member slf:TierOneCapitalMember
1776 Types of interest rates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfInterestRatesAxis
1777 Interest rate types [member] Member ifrs-full:InterestRateTypesMember
1778 Annual Yield Member slf:AnnualYieldMember
1779 Government of Canada Bond Yield Member slf:GovernmentOfCanadaBondYieldMember
1780 Five-year Government of Canada Bond Yield Member slf:FiveYearGovernmentOfCanadaBondYieldMember
1781 Borrowings by name [axis] Axis ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameAxis
1782 Borrowings by name [member] Member ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameMember
1783 Sun Life ExchangEable Capital Securities Member slf:SunLifeExchangEableCapitalSecuritiesMember
1784 Sun Life Capital Trust SLEECS B Member slf:SunLifeCapitalTrustSLEECSBMember
1785 Sun Life Capital Trust II SEECS 2009-1 Member slf:SunLifeCapitalTrustIISEECS20091Member
1786 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsLineItems
1787 Borrowings, convertible, number of equity instruments (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period slf:BorrowingsConvertibleNumberOfEquityInstruments
1788 Annual yield Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:BorrowingsInterestRate
1789 Principal amount Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:NotionalAmount
1790 Borrowings Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Borrowings
1791 Adjustment to interest rate basis Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:BorrowingsAdjustmentToInterestRateBasis
1792 2440402 - Disclosure - Subordinated Debt - Obligations Included in Subordinated Debt (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SubordinatedDebtObligationsIncludedInSubordinatedDebtDetails
1793 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsTable
1794 Borrowings, Redemption Period [Axis] Axis slf:BorrowingsRedemptionPeriodAxis
1795 Borrowings, Redemption Period [Domain] Member slf:BorrowingsRedemptionPeriodDomain
1796 After earliest par call or redemption date Member slf:BorrowingsAfterRedemptionDateMember
1797 Before earliest par call or redemption date Member slf:BorrowingsBeforeRedemptionDateMember
1798 Types of interest rates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfInterestRatesAxis
1799 Interest rate types [member] Member ifrs-full:InterestRateTypesMember
1800 Government of Canada Bond Yield Member slf:GovernmentOfCanadaBondYieldMember
1801 Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) Member slf:CanadianDollarOfferedRateCDORMember
1802 Borrowings by name [axis] Axis ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameAxis
1803 Borrowings by name [member] Member ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameMember
1804 Sun Life Assurance Subordinated Debt Issued May 15, 1998 Member slf:SunLifeAssuranceSubordinatedDebtIssuedMay151998Member
1805 Subordinated Debt Issued May 29, 2007 Member slf:SunLifeFinancialInc.SubordinatedDebtIssuedMay292007Member
1806 Subordinated Debt Issued January 30, 2008 Member slf:SunLifeFinancialInc.SubordinatedDebtIssuedJanuary302008Member
1807 Subordinated Debt Issued March 2, 2012 Member slf:SunLifeFinancialInc.SubordinatedDebtIssuedMarch22012Member
1808 Subordinated Debt Issued May 13, 2014 Member slf:SunLifeFinancialInc.SubordinatedDebtIssuedMay132014Member
1809 Subordinated Debt Issued September 25, 2015 Member slf:SunLifeFinancialInc.SubordinatedDebtIssuedSeptember252015Member
1810 Subordinated Debt Issued February 19, 2016 Member slf:SunLifeFinancialInc.SubordinatedDebtIssuedFebruary192016Member
1811 Subordinated Debt Issued September 19, 2016 Member slf:SunLifeFinancialInc.SubordinatedDebtIssuedSeptember192016Member
1812 Subordinated Debt Issued November 23, 2017 Member slf:SunLifeFinancialInc.SubordinatedDebtIssuedNovember232017Member
1813 Subordinated Debt Member slf:SubordinatedLiabilitiesMember
1814 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsLineItems
1815 Interest rate Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:BorrowingsInterestRate
1816 Borrowings outstanding Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Borrowings
1817 Fair value of borrowings outstanding Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:BorrowingsAtFairValue
1818 Adjustment to interest rate basis Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:BorrowingsAdjustmentToInterestRateBasis
1819 Interest expense on subordinated debt Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:InterestExpenseOnDebtInstrumentsIssued
1820 2443402 - Disclosure - Share Capital - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ShareCapitalNarrativeDetails
1821 Disclosure of classes of share capital [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalTable
1822 Classes of share capital [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalAxis
1823 Share capital [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalMember
1824 Preferred shares Member ifrs-full:PreferenceSharesMember
1825 Common shares (Note 15) Member ifrs-full:OrdinarySharesMember
1826 Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalLineItems
1827 Number of class series Concept (Integer) For Period slf:NumberOfShareClassSeriesAuthorised
1828 Number of class series outstanding Concept (Integer) For Period slf:NumberOfShareClassSeriesOutstanding
1829 Aggregate liquidation entitlement amount Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:PreferenceSharesAggregateLiquidationEntitlement
1830 Dividend reinvestments option to issue discounted shares, discount maximum percentage Concept (Percent) For Period slf:DividendReinvestmentPlanOptionForDiscountOnSharesIssuedPercentageMaximum
1831 2443403 - Disclosure - Share Capital - Common Shares Issued and Outstanding (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ShareCapitalCommonSharesIssuedAndOutstandingDetails
1832 Disclosure of classes of share capital [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalTable
1833 Share Repurchase Program [Axis] Axis slf:ShareRepurchaseProgram1Axis
1834 Share Repurchase Program [Domain] Member slf:ShareRepurchaseProgram1Domain
1835 2018 NCIB Member slf:A2018NCIBMember
1836 Third-Party Share Repurchase Program Member slf:ThirdPartyShareRepurchaseProgramMember
1837 Classes of share capital [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalAxis
1838 Share capital [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalMember
1839 Common shares Member ifrs-full:OrdinarySharesMember
1840 Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalLineItems
1841 Reconciliation of number of shares outstanding [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ReconciliationOfNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract
1842 Number of shares outstanding, beginning of year (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfSharesOutstanding
1843 Stock options exercised (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsExercisedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1844 Common shares purchased for cancellation (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period slf:IncreaseDecreaseInNumberOfSharesOutstandingThroughPurchaseOfTreasuryShares
1845 Common shares issued as consideration for business acquisition (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period slf:IncreaseDecreaseInNumberOfSharesOutstandingThroughBusinessCombination
1846 Number of shares outstanding, end of year (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfSharesOutstanding
1847 Balance, beginning of year Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:IssuedCapital
1848 Stock options exercised Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughExerciseOfOptions
1849 Common shares purchased for cancellation Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:PurchaseOfTreasuryShares
1850 Common shares issued as consideration for business acquisition Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncreaseDecreaseInNumberOfSharesOutstandingThroughBusinessCombinationValue
1851 Balance, end of year Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:IssuedCapital
1852 Number of shares authorized for purchase and cancellation (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of slf:NumberOfSharesAuthorisedForRepurchaseAndCancellationOfTreasuryShares
1853 Purchase and cancellation of treasury shares (cad per share) Concept (Share) For Period slf:PurchaseAndCancellationOfTreasurySharesPricePerShare
1854 Payments to acquire or redeem entity's shares Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PaymentsToAcquireOrRedeemEntitysShares
1855 2443405 - Disclosure - Share Capital - Preferred Shares (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ShareCapitalPreferredSharesDetails
1856 Disclosure of classes of share capital [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalTable
1857 Classes of share capital [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalAxis
1858 Share capital [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalMember
1859 Preferred shares Member ifrs-full:PreferenceSharesMember
1860 Series 1 Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries1Member
1861 Series 2 Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries2Member
1862 Series 3 Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries3Member
1863 Series 4 Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries4Member
1864 Series 5 Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries5Member
1865 Series 8R Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries8RMember
1866 Series 9QR Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries9QRMember
1867 Series 10R Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries10RMember
1868 Series 11QR Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries11QRMember
1869 Series 12R Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries12RMember
1870 Series 8R, Series 10R and Series 12R Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries8RSeries10RAndSeries12RMember
1871 Series 9QR and Series 11QR- on redemption date and every five years thereafter Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries9QRAndSeries11QROnRedemptionDateAndEveryFiveYearsThereafterMember
1872 Preference Shares, Class A, Series 9QR and Series 11QR - on any other date Member slf:PreferenceSharesClassASeries9QRAndSeries11QROnAnyOtherDateMember
1873 Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalLineItems
1874 Annual dividend rate Concept (Percent) For Period slf:PreferenceSharesDividendRatePercentage
1875 Annual dividend per share Concept (Share) For Period ifrs-full:DividendsPaidOtherSharesPerShare
1876 Number of shares Concept (Shares) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfSharesOutstanding
1877 Face amount Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:IssuedCapitalFaceAmount
1878 Issued capital Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:IssuedCapital
1879 Annual dividend rate spread Concept (Percent) For Period slf:PreferenceSharesAdjustmentToDividendRateBasisPercentage
1880 Redemption price per share (in CAD per share) Concept (Share) As Of slf:PreferenceSharesRedemptionPricePerShare
1881 2449402 - Disclosure - Interests in Other Entities - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InterestsInOtherEntitiesNarrativeDetails
1882 Disclosure Of Joint Ventures And Associates [Table] Table

*

*

 slf:DisclosureOfJointVenturesAndAssociatesTable
1883 Categories of related parties [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis
1884 Entity's total for related parties [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForRelatedPartiesMember
1885 Joint ventures where entity is venturer Member ifrs-full:JointVenturesWhereEntityIsVenturerMember
1886 Joint operations [axis] Axis ifrs-full:JointOperationsAxis
1887 Entity's total for joint operations [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForJointOperationsMember
1888 Joint operations Member ifrs-full:JointOperationsMember
1889 Associates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis
1890 Entity's total for associates [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForAssociatesMember
1891 Associates Member ifrs-full:AssociatesMember
1892 Joint ventures [axis] Axis ifrs-full:JointVenturesAxis
1893 Entity's total for joint ventures [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForJointVenturesMember
1894 BSLI Member slf:BiriaSunLifeInsuranceCompanyLimitedMember
1895 Canadian real estate joint ventures Member slf:CanadianRealEstateJointVenturesMember
1896 Joint ventures Member ifrs-full:JointVenturesMember
1897 Range [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangeAxis
1898 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
1899 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
1900 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
1901 Disclosure Of Joint Ventures And Associates [Line Items] LineItems slf:DisclosureOfJointVenturesAndAssociatesLineItems
1902 Interest in joint ventures and associates Concept (Percent) For Period slf:ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInJointVentureAndAssociates
1903 Increase in equity method investments Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:IncreaseDecreaseInInvestmentsAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
1904 Consideration paid to acquire interests in joint ventures Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherCashPaymentsToAcquireInterestsInJointVenturesClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
1905 Dividends received from joint ventures and associates (Note 16) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:DividendsReceivedFromInvestmentsAccountedForUsingEquityMethodClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
1906 Rental payments Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:LeasesAsLesseeRelatedPartyTransactions
1907 Future rental payments to joint ventures and associates Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:MinimumOperatingLeasePaymentsRelatedPartyTransactions
1908 Rental lease term Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:LeasesAsLesseeRelatedPartyTransactionsTerm
1909 Investment properties and other assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:InvestmentPropertiesAndOtherAssets
1910 Fair value of jointly controlled assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:FairValueOfJointlyControlledAssets
1911 2449403 - Disclosure - Interests in Other Entities - Financial Information of Joint Ventures and Associates (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InterestsInOtherEntitiesFinancialInformationOfJointVenturesAndAssociatesDetails
1912 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1913 Interests In Other Entities [Abstract] Abstract slf:InterestsInOtherEntitiesAbstract
1914 Carrying amount of interests in joint ventures and associates Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
1915 Our share of: Abstract ifrs-full:ShareOfProfitLossOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethodAbstract
1916 Net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ShareOfProfitLossOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
1917 Other comprehensive income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ShareOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethodThatWillBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTax
1918 Total comprehensive income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ShareOfTotalComprehensiveIncomeOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
1919 2449404 - Disclosure - Interests in Other Entities - Interest in Unconsolidated Structured Entities (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/InterestsInOtherEntitiesInterestInUnconsolidatedStructuredEntitiesDetails
1920 Disclosure of unconsolidated structured entities [table] Table

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*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfUnconsolidatedStructuredEntitiesTable
1921 Classes of assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfAssetsAxis
1922 Assets [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfAssetsMember
1923 Debt securities Member ifrs-full:DebtSecuritiesMember
1924 Cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities Member slf:CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsMember
1925 Equity securities Member ifrs-full:OtherEquitySecuritiesMember
1926 Equity securities and Other invested assets Member slf:OtherEquitySecuritiesAndOtherInvestedAssetsMember
1927 Other invested assets Member slf:OtherInvestedAssetsMember
1928 Joint ventures [axis] Axis ifrs-full:JointVenturesAxis
1929 Entity's total for joint ventures [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForJointVenturesMember
1930 Joint ventures Member ifrs-full:JointVenturesMember
1931 Unconsolidated structured entities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:UnconsolidatedStructuredEntitiesAxis
1932 Entity's total for unconsolidated structured entities [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForUnconsolidatedStructuredEntitiesMember
1933 Investment funds Member ifrs-full:InvestmentFundsMember
1934 Securitization entities – third-party managed Member slf:SecuritisationVehiclesManagedByThirdPartyMember
1935 Investment funds – third-party managed Member slf:InvestmentFundsManagedByThirdPartyMember
1936 Investment funds – company managed Member slf:InvestmentFundsManagedByParentMember
1937 Limited partnerships – third-party managed Member slf:LimitedPartnershipsManagedByThirdPartyMember
1938 Disclosure of unconsolidated structured entities [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfUnconsolidatedStructuredEntitiesLineItems
1939 Carrying amount Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:AssetsRecognisedInEntitysFinancialStatementsInRelationToStructuredEntities
1940 Maximum exposure to loss Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:MaximumExposureToLossFromInterestsInStructuredEntities
1941 2452402 - Disclosure - Fee Income - Schedule of Fee Income (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/FeeIncomeScheduleOfFeeIncomeDetails
1942 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1943 Analysis of income and expense [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:AnalysisOfIncomeAndExpenseAbstract
1944 Fee income from insurance contracts Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FeeIncomeFromInsuranceContracts
1945 Distribution fees Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:DistributionFeeIncome
1946 Fund management and other asset-based fees Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:FundManagementAndOtherAssetBasedFees
1947 Administrative service and other fees Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherFeeAndCommissionIncome
1948 Total fee income Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:FeeAndCommissionIncome
1949 2455402 - Disclosure - Operating Expenses - Schedule of Operating Expenses (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/OperatingExpensesScheduleOfOperatingExpensesDetails
1950 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1951 Analysis of income and expense [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:AnalysisOfIncomeAndExpenseAbstract
1952 Operating Expense [Abstract] Abstract slf:OperatingExpenseAbstract
1953 Employee expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:EmployeeBenefitsExpense
1954 Premises and equipment Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:RentalExpense
1955 Capital asset depreciation Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:DepreciationExpense
1956 Service fees Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ServicesExpense
1957 Amortization charge for the year Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:AmortisationIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
1958 Other expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:MiscellaneousOtherOperatingExpense
1959 Total operating expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:OperatingExpense
1960 Restructuring costs Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseOfRestructuringActivities
1961 Employee Expenses [Abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ClassesOfEmployeeBenefitsExpenseAbstract
1962 Salaries, bonus, employee benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ShorttermEmployeeBenefitsExpense
1963 Share-based payments (Note 19) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseFromSharebasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployees
1964 Other personnel costs Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:OtherEmployeeExpense
1965 Total employee expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:EmployeeBenefitsExpense
1966 2461402 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Narrative (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsNarrativeDetails
1967 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementTable
1968 Range [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangeAxis
1969 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
1970 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
1971 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
1972 Types of share-based payment arrangements [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis
1973 Share-based payment arrangements [member] Member ifrs-full:SharebasedPaymentArrangementsMember
1974 Stock Option Member slf:EmployeeStockOption1Member
1975 Employee Share Ownership Plan Member slf:EmployeeShareOwnershipPlanMember
1976 Sun Share Plan Member slf:SunSharePlanMember
1977 MFS Investment Management Share-Based Awards Member slf:MFSInvestmentManagementShareBasedAwardsMember
1978 MFS Investment Management Stock Options, Restricted Shares, and Outstanding Shares Member slf:MFSInvestmentManagementStockOptionsRestrictedSharesandOutstandingSharesMember
1979 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementLineItems
1980 Vesting period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardVestingPeriod
1981 Maximum exercise period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod1
1982 Maximum number of common shares that may be issued under the Executive Stock Option Plan Concept (Decimal) As Of slf:SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardNumberofSharesAuthorized
1983 Average share price at the date of exercise of stock options (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsInSharebasedPaymentArrangementExercisedDuringPeriodAtDateOfExercise
1984 Compensation expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseFromSharebasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployees
1985 Weighted average share price, share options granted (in CAD per share) Concept (Share) For Period slf:WeightedAverageFairValueShareOptionsGranted
1986 Employee contribution election Concept (Percent) As Of slf:ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeSubscriptionRate1
1987 Required service period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod2
1988 Employee's contribution, percentage match Concept (Percent) For Period slf:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployerMatchingContributionPercentOfEmployeeContributions
1989 Employee's annual compensation, percentage match Concept (Percent) For Period slf:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployerMatchingContributionPercentOfEmployeesGrossPay
1990 Annual compensation match maximum, amount Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployerMatchingContributionMaximumMatchAmount
1991 Liabilities accrued Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilitiesFromSharebasedPaymentTransactions2011
1992 Number of other equity instruments granted in share-based payment arrangement Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfInstrumentsOtherEquityInstrumentsGranted
1993 Number of trading days prior to grant date used for unit valuation Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfTradingDaysPriorToGrantDateUsedForUnitValuation
1994 General unit holding period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardHoldingPeriod
1995 Performance factor multiplier Concept (Decimal) For Period slf:ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMultiplierOnReturnForShareholders
1996 2461403 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Activities in Stock Option Plans (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsActivitiesInStockOptionPlansDetails
1997 Disclosure of range of exercise prices of outstanding share options [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfRangeOfExercisePricesOfOutstandingShareOptionsTable
1998 Types of share-based payment arrangements [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis
1999 Share-based payment arrangements [member] Member ifrs-full:SharebasedPaymentArrangementsMember
2000 Stock Option Member slf:EmployeeStockOption1Member
2001 Disclosure of range of exercise prices of outstanding share options [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfRangeOfExercisePricesOfOutstandingShareOptionsLineItems
2002 Number of stock options (thousands) Abstract slf:SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingRollForward
2003 Beginning balance (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOutstandingShareOptions
2004 Granted (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsGrantedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2005 Exercised (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsExercisedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2006 Forfeited (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsForfeitedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2007 Expired (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsExpiredInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2008 Ending balance (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOutstandingShareOptions
2009 Weighted average exercise price Abstract slf:WeightedAverageExercisePriceAbstract
2010 Weighted average exercise price, beginning balance (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2011 Weighted average exercise price, granted (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsGrantedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2012 Weighted average exercise price, exercised (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsExercisedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2013 Weighted average exercise price, forfeited (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsForfeitedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2014 Weighted average exercise price, expired (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsExpiredInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2015 Weighted average exercise price, ending balance, (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2016 Exercisable, December 31 (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsExercisableInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2017 Weighted average exercise price, exercisable (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsExercisableInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2018 2461404 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Share Based Options by Exercise Price (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsShareBasedOptionsByExercisePriceDetails
2019 Disclosure of range of exercise prices of outstanding share options [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfRangeOfExercisePricesOfOutstandingShareOptionsTable
2020 Ranges of exercise prices for outstanding share options [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangesOfExercisePricesForOutstandingShareOptionsAxis
2021 Ranges of exercise prices for outstanding share options [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesOfExercisePricesForOutstandingShareOptionsMember
2022 $18.00 to $24.00 Member slf:ExercisePriceRangeOneMember
2023 $24.01 to $30.00 Member slf:ExercisePriceRangeTwoMember
2024 $30.01 to $35.00 Member slf:ExercisePriceRangeThreeMember
2025 $35.01 to $45.00 Member slf:ExercisePriceRangeFourMember
2026 $45.01 to $53.96 Member slf:ExercisePriceRangeFiveMember
2027 Range [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangeAxis
2028 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
2029 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
2030 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
2031 Disclosure of range of exercise prices of outstanding share options [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfRangeOfExercisePricesOfOutstandingShareOptionsLineItems
2032 Range of exercise prices (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:ExercisePriceOfOutstandingShareOptions
2033 Number of stock options (thousands) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOutstandingShareOptions
2034 Weighted average remaining contractual life (years) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:WeightedAverageRemainingContractualLifeOfOutstandingShareOptions
2035 Weighted average exercise price (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2036 2461405 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Weighted Average Assumptions (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsWeightedAverageAssumptionsDetails
2037 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
2038 Share-Based Payment Arrangements [Abstract] Abstract slf:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementsAbstract
2039 Risk-free interest rate Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfRiskFreeInterestRateShareOptionsGranted
2040 Expected volatility Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfExpectedVolatilityShareOptionsGranted
2041 Expected dividend yield Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:ExpectedDividendAsPercentageShareOptionsGranted
2042 Expected life of the option (in years) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfOptionLifeShareOptionsGranted
2043 Exercise price (in CAD per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:ExercisePriceShareOptionsGranted
2044 2461406 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Other Share Based Payment Plan (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsOtherShareBasedPaymentPlanDetails
2045 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementTable
2046 Types of share-based payment arrangements [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis
2047 Share-based payment arrangements [member] Member ifrs-full:SharebasedPaymentArrangementsMember
2048 Sun Share Units and Deferred Share Units (DSU) Member slf:SunShareUnitsAndDeferredShareUnitsDSUMember
2049 Sun Shares Member slf:SunShareUnitsMember
2050 DSUs Member slf:DeferredShareUnitsDSUsMember
2051 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementLineItems
2052 Units outstanding (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
2053 Liabilities accrued Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilitiesFromSharebasedPaymentTransactions2011
2054 Compensation expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseFromSharebasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployees
2055 Income tax expense (benefit) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:TaxExpenseIncomeFromShareBasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployees
2056 2461407 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Share-Based Payment Plans of MFS (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsShareBasedPaymentPlansOfMfsDetails
2057 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementTable
2058 Types of share-based payment arrangements [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis
2059 Share-based payment arrangements [member] Member ifrs-full:SharebasedPaymentArrangementsMember
2060 MFS Investment Management Share-Based Awards Member slf:MFSInvestmentManagementShareBasedAwardsMember
2061 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementLineItems
2062 Compensation expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseFromSharebasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployees
2063 Income tax expense (benefit) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:TaxExpenseIncomeFromShareBasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployees
2064 2464402 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Temporary Differences in Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/IncomeTaxesTemporaryDifferencesInDeferredTaxAssetsAndLiabilitiesDetails
2065 Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsTable
2066 Temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsAxis
2067 Temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [member] Member ifrs-full:TemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsMember
2068 Investments Member slf:Investments1Member
2069 Policy liabilities Member slf:OtherPolicyLiabilitiesMember
2070 Deferred acquisition costs Member slf:DeferredAcquisitionCostsMember
2071 Losses available for carry forward Member ifrs-full:UnusedTaxLossesMember
2072 Pension and other employee benefits Member slf:PensionAndOtherEmployeeBenefitsMember
2073 Other Member ifrs-full:OtherTemporaryDifferencesMember
2074 Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsLineItems
2075 Deferred tax assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxAssets
2076 Liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxLiabilities
2077 Total net deferred tax asset Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:NetDeferredTaxAssets
2078 2464403 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Movement in Net Deferred Tax Assets (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/IncomeTaxesMovementInNetDeferredTaxAssetsDetails
2079 Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsTable
2080 Temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsAxis
2081 Temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [member] Member ifrs-full:TemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsMember
2082 Investments Member slf:Investments1Member
2083 Policy liabilities Member slf:OtherPolicyLiabilitiesMember
2084 Deferred acquisition costs Member slf:DeferredAcquisitionCostsMember
2085 Losses available for carry forward Member ifrs-full:UnusedTaxLossesMember
2086 Pension and other employee benefits Member slf:PensionAndOtherEmployeeBenefitsMember
2087 Other Member ifrs-full:OtherTemporaryDifferencesMember
2088 Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsLineItems
2089 Reconciliation of changes in deferred tax assets [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ReconciliationOfChangesInDeferredTaxLiabilityAssetAbstract
2090 Beginning balance, deferred tax assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxLiabilityAsset
2091 Acquisitions (disposals) through business combinations Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughBusinessCombinationsDeferredTaxLiabilityAsset
2092 Charged to statement of operations Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
2093 Charged to other comprehensive income Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncomeTaxRelatingToComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeRelatedToDeferredTaxAssetsNet
2094 Charged to equity, other than other comprehensive income Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncomeTaxRelatingToComponentsOfEquityOtherThanOtherComprehensiveIncomeRelatedToDeferredTaxAssetsNet
2095 Foreign exchange rate movements Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferencesDeferredTaxLiabilityAsset
2096 Ending balance, deferred tax assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxLiabilityAsset
2097 2464404 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/IncomeTaxesNarrativeDetails
2098 Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsTable
2099 Temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsAxis
2100 Temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [member] Member ifrs-full:TemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsMember
2101 Unused tax credits Member ifrs-full:UnusedTaxCreditsMember
2102 Unused tax losses Member ifrs-full:UnusedTaxLossesMember
2103 Geographical areas [axis] Axis ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasAxis
2104 Geographical areas [member] Member ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasMember
2105 United States Member country:US
2106 United Kingdom Member country:GB
2107 Canada Member country:CA
2108 ALBERTA Member stpr:A0
2109 Asia Member slf:Asia1Member
2110 Range [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangeAxis
2111 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
2112 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
2113 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
2114 Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsLineItems
2115 Accumulated non-capital tax losses Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:NonCapitalProfitLossBeforeTax
2116 Deferred tax assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxAssets
2117 Capital losses Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:CapitalProfitLossBeforeTax
2118 Unused tax losses for which a deferred tax asset has not been recognised Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:UnusedTaxLossesForWhichNoDeferredTaxAssetRecognised
2119 Capital tax losses for which no deferred tax asset recognised Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:CapitalTaxLossesForWhichNoDeferredTaxAssetRecognised
2120 Temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, branches, joint ventures and associates for which a deferred tax liability has not been recognised Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:TemporaryDifferencesAssociatedWithInvestmentsInSubsidiariesBranchesAndAssociatesAndInterestsInJointVentures
2121 Applicable tax rate Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:ApplicableTaxRate
2122 Tax benefit relating to investments in joint ventures Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:TaxEffectOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
2123 Charge relating to withholding taxes on distributions from foreign subsidiaries Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:TaxEffectOfRepatriationOfForeignEarnings
2124 Provisional tax benefit relating to revaluation of deferred tax balances Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017ChangeInTaxRateIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit1
2125 One-time deemed repatriation charge Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsIncomeTaxExpense
2126 Withholding taxes on distributions from foreign subsidiaries Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:TaxRateEffectRepatriationOfForeignEarnings
2127 Benefit related to investments in joint ventures Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:TaxRateEffectRepatriationOfForeignEarningsWithInvestmentsInSubsidiariesBranchesAndAssociatesAndInterestsInJointVentures
2128 2464405 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/IncomeTaxesComponentsOfIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitDetails
2129 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
2130 Income Taxes [Abstract] Abstract slf:IncomeTaxesAbstract
2131 Current income tax expense (benefit): Abstract ifrs-full:CurrentTaxExpenseIncomeAndAdjustmentsForCurrentTaxOfPriorPeriodsAbstract
2132 Current year Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CurrentTaxExpenseIncome
2133 Adjustments in respect of prior years, including resolution of tax disputes Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForCurrentTaxOfPriorPeriod
2134 Tax rate and other legislative changes Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:CurrentTaxExpenseIncomeRelatingToTaxRateChangesOrImpositionOfNewTaxes
2135 Total current income tax expense (benefit) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CurrentTaxExpenseIncomeAndAdjustmentsForCurrentTaxOfPriorPeriods
2136 Deferred income tax expense (benefit): Abstract ifrs-full:DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeAbstract
2137 Origination and reversal of temporary differences Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeRelatingToOriginationAndReversalOfTemporaryDifferences
2138 Tax expense (benefit) arising from unrecognized tax losses Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:TaxBenefitArisingFromPreviouslyUnrecognisedTaxLossTaxCreditOrTemporaryDifferenceOfPriorPeriodUsedToReduceDeferredTaxExpense
2139 Adjustments in respect of prior years, including resolution of tax disputes Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForDeferredTaxOfPriorPeriods
2140 Tax rate and other legislative changes Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeRelatingToTaxRateChangesOrImpositionOfNewTaxes
2141 Total deferred income tax expense (benefit) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeAndAdjustmentsForDeferredTaxOfPriorPeriods
2142 Total income tax expense (benefit) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxExpenseContinuingOperations
2143 2464406 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Income Tax Benefit (Expense) Recognized Directly in Equity (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/IncomeTaxesIncomeTaxBenefitExpenseRecognizedDirectlyInEquityDetails
2144 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
2145 Income Taxes [Abstract] Abstract slf:IncomeTaxesAbstract
2146 Income tax benefit (expense): Abstract ifrs-full:IncomeTaxRelatingToComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeAbstract
2147 Current income tax benefit (expense) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CurrentTaxRelatingToItemsChargedOrCreditedDirectlyToEquity
2148 Deferred income tax benefit (expense) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:DeferredTaxRelatingToItemsChargedOrCreditedDirectlyToEquity
2149 Total income tax benefit (expense) included in other comprehensive income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:IncomeTaxRelatingToComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncome
2150 Recognized in equity, other than other comprehensive income: Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:CurrentAndDeferredTaxRelatingToItemsCreditedChargedDirectlyToEquityOtherThatComprehensiveIncome
2151 Deferred income tax benefit (expense) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxExpenseIncome
2152 Total income tax benefit (expense) recorded in equity, including tax benefit (expense) recorded in other comprehensive income Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CurrentAndDeferredTaxRelatingToItemsChargedOrCreditedDirectlyToEquity
2153 2464407 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/IncomeTaxesEffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDetails
2154 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
2155 Income Taxes [Abstract] Abstract slf:IncomeTaxesAbstract
2156 Total net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLoss
2157 Income tax expense (benefit) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxExpenseContinuingOperations
2158 Total net income (loss) before income taxes Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossBeforeTax
2159 Reconciliation of accounting profit multiplied by applicable tax rates [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ReconciliationOfAccountingProfitMultipliedByApplicableTaxRatesAbstract
2160 Taxes at the combined Canadian federal and provincial statutory income tax rate Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:TaxExpenseIncomeAtApplicableTaxRate
2161 Higher (lower) effective rates on income subject to taxation in foreign jurisdictions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:TaxEffectOfForeignTaxRates
2162 Tax exempt investment income Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:TaxEffectOfTaxLossesAndTaxCredits
2163 Tax (benefit) cost of unrecognized tax losses and tax credits Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:TaxEffectOfRevenuesExemptFromTaxation2011
2164 Tax rate and other legislative changes Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:TaxEffectFromChangeInTaxRate
2165 Adjustments in respect of prior years, including resolution of tax disputes Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:TaxEffectOfPriorYearIncomeTaxes
2166 Other Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:OtherTaxEffectsForReconciliationBetweenAccountingProfitAndTaxExpenseIncome
2167 Total income tax expense (benefit) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxExpenseContinuingOperations
2168 Reconciliation of average effective tax rate and applicable tax rate [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ReconciliationOfAverageEffectiveTaxRateAndApplicableTaxRateAbstract
2169 Taxes at the combined Canadian federal and provincial statutory income tax rate Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:ApplicableTaxRate
2170 Higher (lower) effective rates on income subject to taxation in foreign jurisdictions Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:TaxRateEffectOfForeignTaxRates
2171 Tax exempt investment income Concept (Percent) For Period slf:TaxRateEffectOfTaxLossesAndTaxCredits
2172 Tax (benefit) cost of unrecognized tax losses and tax credits Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:TaxRateEffectOfRevenuesExemptFromTaxation
2173 Tax rate and other legislative changes Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:TaxRateEffectFromChangeInTaxRate
2174 Adjustments in respect of prior years, including resolution of tax disputes Concept (Percent) For Period slf:TaxRateEffectOfPriorYearIncomeTaxes
2175 Other Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:OtherTaxRateEffectsForReconciliationBetweenAccountingProfitAndTaxExpenseIncome
2176 Effective Income tax rate Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:AverageEffectiveTaxRate
2177 2467402 - Disclosure - Capital Management - Schedule of Total Capital (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/CapitalManagementScheduleOfTotalCapitalDetails
2178 Entity Location [Table] Table

*

*

 dei:EntityLocationTable
2179 Range [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangeAxis
2180 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
2181 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
2182 Classes of share capital [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalAxis
2183 Share capital [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalMember
2184 Preferred shares Member ifrs-full:PreferenceSharesMember
2185 Common shares Member ifrs-full:OrdinarySharesMember
2186 Components of equity [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ComponentsOfEquityAxis
2187 Equity [member] Member ifrs-full:EquityMember
2188 Participating policyholders Member slf:ParticipatingPolicyholdersMember
2189 Shares Member ifrs-full:IssuedCapitalMember
2190 Borrowings by name [axis] Axis ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameAxis
2191 Borrowings by name [member] Member ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameMember
2192 Subordinated Debt Member slf:SubordinatedLiabilitiesMember
2193 Sun Life ExchangEable Capital Securities Member slf:SunLifeExchangEableCapitalSecuritiesMember
2194 Legal Entity [Axis] Axis dei:LegalEntityAxis
2195 Entity [Domain] Member dei:EntityDomain
2196 Sun Life Assurance Member slf:SunLifeAssuranceMember
2197 Entity Location [Line Items] LineItems dei:EntityLocationLineItems
2198 Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test Ratio, Actual Concept (Percent) As Of slf:LifeInsuranceCapitalAdequacyTestRatioActual
2199 Expected MCCSR ratio Concept (Percent) As Of slf:MinimumContinuingCapitalAndSurplusRequirementRatioTargeted
2200 Actual MCCSR ratio Concept (Percent) As Of slf:MinimumContinuingCapitalAndSurplusRequirementRatioActual
2201 Borrowings Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Borrowings
2202 Equity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Equity
2203 Capital Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:Capital1
2204 Gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities and cash flow hedges Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:UnrealizedGainsLossesOnAvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAndCashFlowHedges
2205 2467403 - Disclosure - Capital Management - Participating Account Seed Capital (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/CapitalManagementParticipatingAccountSeedCapitalDetails
2206 Entity Location [Table] Table

*

*

 dei:EntityLocationTable
2207 Segments [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SegmentsAxis
2208 Segments [member] Member ifrs-full:SegmentsMember
2209 SLF Canada Member slf:SunLifeCanadaMember
2210 SLF U.S. Member slf:SunLifeFinancialUnitedStatesMember
2211 Components of equity [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ComponentsOfEquityAxis
2212 Equity [member] Member ifrs-full:EquityMember
2213 Shareholders Member ifrs-full:EquityAttributableToOwnersOfParentMember
2214 Retained earnings Member ifrs-full:RetainedEarningsMember
2215 Participating policyholders Member slf:ParticipatingPolicyholdersMember
2216 Entity Location [Line Items] LineItems dei:EntityLocationLineItems
2217 Increase (decrease) through transfer from participating policyholders' equity Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncreaseDecreaseThroughTransfersFromParticipatingPolicyholdersEquity
2218 Increase (decrease) in net income (loss) through transfers of interest on seed capital Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:IncreaseDecreaseThroughTransfersOfInterestOnSeedCapital
2219 2470402 - Disclosure - Segregated Funds - Segregated Fund Types (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SegregatedFundsSegregatedFundTypesDetails
2220 Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Table] Table

*

*

 slf:ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestment1Table
2221 Range [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangeAxis
2222 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
2223 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
2224 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
2225 Investment Type [Axis] Axis slf:InvestmentType1Axis
2226 Investment Type Categorization Member [Domain] Member slf:InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember1Domain
2227 Money market Member slf:MoneyMarketFunds1Member
2228 Fixed income Member slf:FixedIncomeFunds1Member
2229 Balanced Member slf:BalancedFunds1Member
2230 Equity Member slf:EquityFunds1Member
2231 Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items] LineItems slf:ScheduleofFairValueofSeparateAccountsbyMajorCategoryofInvestment1LineItems
2232 Percent of fixed income funds invested in diversified equities or high-yield bonds Concept (Percent) For Period slf:FixedIncomeInstrumentsPercentageOfFundsInvestedInDiversifiedEquitiesOrHighYieldBonds
2233 Type of funds by percentage of total investments Concept (Percent) As Of slf:SeparateAccountsFundCategoryPercentage
2234 2470403 - Disclosure - Segregated Funds - Investments for Account of Segregated Fund Holders (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SegregatedFundsInvestmentsForAccountOfSegregatedFundHoldersDetails
2235 Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Table] Table

*

*

 slf:ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestment1Table
2236 Classes of liabilities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfLiabilitiesAxis
2237 Liabilities [member] Member ifrs-full:LiabilitiesMember
2238 Investment for account of segregated fund holders, liabilities arising from investing activities Member slf:InvestmentsForSegregatedFundHoldersLiabilitiesArisingFromInvestingActivitiesMember
2239 Classes of assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfAssetsAxis
2240 Assets [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfAssetsMember
2241 Investments for account of segregated fund holders Member slf:InvestmentsForSegregatedFundHoldersMember
2242 Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items] LineItems slf:ScheduleofFairValueofSeparateAccountsbyMajorCategoryofInvestment1LineItems
2243 Segregated and mutual fund units Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:SeparatedAndMutualFunds
2244 Equity securities Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:EquityInstrumentsHeld
2245 Debt securities Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:DebtInstrumentsHeld
2246 Cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:CashCashEquivalentsAndCurrentInvestments
2247 Investment properties Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:InvestmentProperty
2248 Mortgages Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:Mortgages
2249 Other assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:OtherAssets
2250 Total assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:Assets
2251 Less: Liabilities arising from investing activities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Liabilities
2252 Total investments for account of segregated fund holders Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:SeparateAccounts
2253 2470404 - Disclosure - Segregated Funds - Changes in Insurance Contracts and Investment Contracts for Account of Segregated Fund Holders (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/SegregatedFundsChangesInInsuranceContractsAndInvestmentContractsForAccountOfSegregatedFundHoldersDetails
2254 Disclosure Of Separate Accounts [Table] Table

*

*

 slf:DisclosureOfSeparateAccountsTable
2255 Classes of liabilities [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfLiabilitiesAxis
2256 Liabilities [member] Member ifrs-full:LiabilitiesMember
2257 Insurance contracts Member slf:InsuranceContracts1Member
2258 Investment contracts Member slf:InvestmentContracts1Member
2259 Disclosure Of Separate Accounts [Line Items] LineItems slf:DisclosureOfSeparateAccountsLineItems
2260 Insurance Contracts And Investment Contracts For Account Of Segregated Fund Holders [Roll Forward] Abstract slf:InsuranceContractsAndInvestmentContractsForAccountOfSegregatedFundHoldersRollForward
2261 Balance as at January 1 Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:SeparateAccounts
2262 Additions to segregated funds: Abstract slf:AdditionsToSegregatedFundsAbstract
2263 Deposits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesAdditionsFromDeposits
2264 Net transfer (to) from general funds Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesAdditionsFromTransferFromToGeneralFunds
2265 Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesAdditionsFromGainLossRecognizedOnAssetsTransferredToSeparateAccount
2266 Other investment income Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesAdditionsFromOtherInvestmentIncome
2267 Total additions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesAdditions
2268 Deductions from segregated funds: Abstract slf:DeductionsFromSegregatedFundsAbstract
2269 Payments to policyholders and their beneficiaries Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesDeductionsForPolicyholderAndBeneficiaryPayments
2270 Management fees Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesDeductionsForManagementFees
2271 Taxes and other expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesDeductionsForTaxesAndOtherExpenses
2272 Foreign exchange rate movements Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesDeductionsForForeignExchangeRateMovements
2273 Total deductions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesDeductions
2274 Net additions (deductions) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilities
2275 Acquisitions Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInInsuranceReinsuranceAndInvestmentContractLiabilitiesAcquisitions
2276 Balance as at December 31 Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:SeparateAccounts
2277 2473402 - Disclosure - Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies - Lease Commitments, Contractual Commitments, and Letters of Credit (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/CommitmentsGuaranteesAndContingenciesLeaseCommitmentsContractualCommitmentsAndLettersOfCreditDetails
2278 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
2279 Other Provisions, Contingent Liabilities And Contingent Assets [Abstract] Abstract slf:OtherProvisionsContingentLiabilitiesAndContingentAssetsAbstract
2280 Total future rental payments for the remainder of the operating leases Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:MinimumLeasePaymentsPayableUnderNoncancellableOperatingLease
2281 Contractual commitments outstanding Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:ContractualLoansEquitiesAndMortgages
2282 Maximum borrowing capacity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity1
2283 Letters of credit outstanding Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount1
2284 2473403 - Disclosure - Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies - Consolidating Summary Financial Information (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/CommitmentsGuaranteesAndContingenciesConsolidatingSummaryFinancialInformationDetails
2285 Disclosure of operating segments [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsTable
2286 Legal Entity [Axis] Axis dei:LegalEntityAxis
2287 Entity [Domain] Member dei:EntityDomain
2288 Sun Life Assurance (consolidated) Member slf:SunLifeAssuranceMember
2289 Other subsidiaries of SLF Inc. (combined) Member slf:OtherSubsidiariesMember
2290 Consolidation Items [Axis] Axis slf:ConsolidationItems1Axis
2291 Consolidation Items [Domain] Member slf:ConsolidationItems1Domain
2292 Reportable legal entities Member slf:ReportableLegalEntities1Member
2293 Consolidation adjustment Member slf:ConsolidationEliminations1Member
2294 Borrowings by name [axis] Axis ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameAxis
2295 Borrowings by name [member] Member ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameMember
2296 Sun Life Assurance Subordinated Debt Issued May 15, 1998 Member slf:SunLifeAssuranceSubordinatedDebtIssuedMay151998Member
2297 Consolidated Entities1 [Axis] Axis slf:ConsolidatedEntities1Axis
2298 Consolidated Entities1 [Domain] Member slf:ConsolidatedEntities1Domain
2299 Parent Company Member slf:ParentCompany1Member
2300 Subsidiary Issuer Member slf:SubsidiaryIssuer1Member
2301 Disclosure of operating segments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOperatingSegmentsLineItems
2302 Principal amount Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:NotionalAmount
2303 Interest rate Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:BorrowingsInterestRate
2304 Outstanding preferred shares subject to the guarantee (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of slf:PreferenceSharesSubjectToGuaranteeSharesOutstanding
2305 Revenue Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:Revenue
2306 Shareholders' net income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossAttributableToOwnersOfParent
2307 Invested assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:InvestedAssets
2308 Total other general fund assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:OtherGeneralFundAssets
2309 Investments for account of segregated fund holders Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit slf:SeparateAccountAssets1
2310 Insurance contract liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilitiesArisingFromInsuranceContracts
2311 Investment contract liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:InvestmentContractsLiabilities
2312 Total other general fund liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:OtherGeneralFundLiabilities
2313 2473404 - Disclosure - Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies - Legal and Regulatory Proceedings (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/CommitmentsGuaranteesAndContingenciesLegalAndRegulatoryProceedingsDetails
2314 Entities [Table] Table

*

*

 dei:EntitiesTable
2315 Litigation Status [Axis] Axis slf:LitigationStatus1Axis
2316 Litigation Status [Domain] Member slf:LitigationStatus1Domain
2317 Pending Litigation Member slf:PendingLitigation1Member
2318 Entity Information [Line Items] LineItems dei:EntityInformationLineItems
2319 Number of putative class action lawsuits Concept (Integer) For Period slf:LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber1
2320 2476402 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions - Aggregate Compensation to Executive Team and Directors (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactionsAggregateCompensationToExecutiveTeamAndDirectorsDetails
2321 Disclosure of transactions between related parties [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTransactionsBetweenRelatedPartiesTable
2322 Categories of related parties [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis
2323 Entity's total for related parties [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForRelatedPartiesMember
2324 Executive team Member slf:ExecutiveTeamMember
2325 Directors Member slf:Director1Member
2326 Disclosure of transactions between related parties [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTransactionsBetweenRelatedPartiesLineItems
2327 Number of individuals Concept (Integer) For Period slf:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationNumberofIndividuals
2328 Base salary and annual incentive compensation Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationShorttermEmployeeBenefits
2329 Additional short-term benefits and other Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationAdditionalShortTermBenefitsAndOther
2330 Share-based long-term incentive compensation Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationSharebasedPayment
2331 Value of pension and post-retirement benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationPostemploymentBenefits
2332 2479402 - Disclosure - Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/PensionPlansAndOtherPostRetirementBenefitsNarrativeDetails
2333 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansTable
2334 Defined Benefit Plan, Asset Categories [Axis] Axis slf:DefinedBenefitPlansAssetCategoriesAxis
2335 Defined Benefit Plans, Asset Categories [Domain] Member slf:DefinedBenefitPlansAssetCategoriesDomain
2336 Fixed income investments Member slf:FixedIncomeInvestmentMember
2337 Levels of fair value hierarchy [axis] Axis ifrs-full:LevelsOfFairValueHierarchyAxis
2338 All levels of fair value hierarchy [member] Member ifrs-full:AllLevelsOfFairValueHierarchyMember
2339 Level 1 Member ifrs-full:Level1OfFairValueHierarchyMember
2340 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansLineItems
2341 Age requirement Concept (Integer) For Period slf:DefinedBenefitPlanAgeRequirement
2342 Requisite service period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period slf:DefinedBenefitPlanRequisiteServicePeriod
2343 Equity investments Concept (Percent) As Of slf:EquityInstrumentsAmountContributedToFairValueOfPlanAssetsAllocationPercentage
2344 Post-employment benefit expense, defined contribution plans Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:PostemploymentBenefitExpenseDefinedContributionPlans
2345 2479403 - Disclosure - Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits - Schedule of Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/PensionPlansAndOtherPostRetirementBenefitsScheduleOfBenefitObligationsInExcessOfFairValueOfPlanAssetsDetails
2346 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansTable
2347 Net defined benefit liability (asset) [axis] Axis ifrs-full:NetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetAxis
2348 Net defined benefit liability (asset) [member] Member ifrs-full:NetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetMember
2349 Present value of defined benefit obligation Member ifrs-full:PresentValueOfDefinedBenefitObligationMember
2350 Plan assets Member ifrs-full:PlanAssetsMember
2351 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
2352 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
2353 Pension Member slf:PensionPlansDefinedBenefit1Member
2354 Other post-retirement Member slf:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlan1Member
2355 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansLineItems
2356 Net defined benefit liability (asset) - beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilityAssetOfDefinedBenefitPlans
2357 Change in defined benefit obligations: Abstract slf:DefinedBenefitObligationsRollForward
2358 Current service cost Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:CurrentServiceCostNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2359 Interest income (cost) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:InterestExpenseIncomeNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2360 Actuarial losses (gains) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:GainLossOnRemeasurementOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2361 Benefits paid Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:PaymentsInRespectOfSettlementsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2362 Settlement losses (gains) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:GainsLossesArisingFromSettlementsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2363 Plan amendments Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:PlanAmendmentNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2364 Termination benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:TerminationBenefitsExpenseNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2365 Foreign exchange rate movement Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughChangesInForeignExchangeRatesNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2366 Change in plan assets: Abstract slf:DefinedBenefitPlanAssetsRollForward
2367 Administrative expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:AdministrativeExpensesNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2368 Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest expense) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ReturnOnPlanAssetsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2369 Employer contributions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ContributionsToPlanByEmployerNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2370 Fair value of plan assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:PlanAssetsAtFairValue
2371 Defined benefit (obligation) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitObligationAtPresentValue
2372 Net defined benefit liability (asset) - ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilityAssetOfDefinedBenefitPlans
2373 2479404 - Disclosure - Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits - Schedule of Net Benefit Expense (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/PensionPlansAndOtherPostRetirementBenefitsScheduleOfNetBenefitExpenseDetails
2374 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansTable
2375 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
2376 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
2377 Pension Member slf:PensionPlansDefinedBenefit1Member
2378 Other post-retirement Member slf:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlan1Member
2379 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansLineItems
2380 Current service cost Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:CurrentServiceCostNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2381 Net interest expense (income) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:InterestExpenseIncomeNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2382 Settlement losses (gains)(1) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:GainsLossesArisingFromSettlementsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2383 Plan amendments Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:PlanAmendmentNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2384 Termination benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:TerminationBenefitsExpenseNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2385 Other long-term employee benefit losses (gains) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:OtherLongTermEmployeeBenefitGainsLossesNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2386 Net benefit expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:PostemploymentBenefitExpenseDefinedBenefitPlans
2387 2479405 - Disclosure - Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits - Schedule of Components of Defined Benefit Costs Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/PensionPlansAndOtherPostRetirementBenefitsScheduleOfComponentsOfDefinedBenefitCostsRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDetails
2388 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansTable
2389 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
2390 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
2391 Pension Member slf:PensionPlansDefinedBenefit1Member
2392 Other post-retirement Member slf:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlan1Member
2393 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansLineItems
2394 Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest expense) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ReturnOnPlanAssetsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2395 Actuarial gains (losses) arising from changes in demographic assumptions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ActuarialGainsLossesArisingFromChangesInDemographicAssumptionsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2396 Actuarial gains (losses) arising from changes in financial assumptions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ActuarialGainsLossesArisingFromChangesInFinancialAssumptionsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2397 Actuarial gains (losses) arising from experience adjustments Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit slf:ActuarialGainsLossesArisingFromExperienceAdjustmentNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2398 Foreign exchange rate movement Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughChangesInForeignExchangeRatesNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
2399 Components of defined benefit costs recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTaxGainsLossesOnRemeasurementsOfDefinedBenefitPlans
2400 2479406 - Disclosure - Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits - Schedule of Actuarial Assumptions (Details) Network

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*

 http://www.sunlife.com/role/PensionPlansAndOtherPostRetirementBenefitsScheduleOfActuarialAssumptionsDetails
2401 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansTable
2402 Defined Benefit Plan Participants [Axis] Axis slf:DefinedBenefitPlanParticipantsAxis
2403 Plan Participants [Domain] Member slf:PlanParticipantsDomain
2404 Male - Individuals currently at age 65 Member slf:MaleCurrentlyAtAge65Member
2405 Female - Individuals currently at age 65 Member slf:FemaleCurrentlyAtAge65Member
2406 Male - At 65 for individuals currently at age 45 Member slf:MaleAt65ForIndividualsCurrentlyAtAge45Member
2407 Female - At 65 for individuals currently at age 45 Member slf:FemaleAt65ForIndividualsCurrentlyAtAge45Member
2408 Range [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangeAxis
2409 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
2410 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
2411 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
2412 Geographical areas [axis] Axis ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasAxis
2413 Geographical areas [member] Member ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasMember
2414 Canada Member country:CA
2415 United Kingdom Member country:GB
2416 United States Member country:US
2417 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
2418 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
2419 Domestic defined benefit plans Member ifrs-full:DomesticDefinedBenefitPlansMember
2420 Foreign defined benefit plans Member ifrs-full:ForeignDefinedBenefitPlansMember
2421 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansLineItems
2422 To determine defined benefit obligation at end of year: Abstract slf:DefinedBenefitObligationAbstract
2423 Discount rate for pension plans Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfDiscountRates
2424 Rate of compensation increase Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfExpectedRatesOfSalaryIncreases
2425 Pension increases Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfExpectedRatesOfPensionIncreases
2426 To determine net benefit expense for year: Abstract slf:BenefitExpenseNetAbstract
2427 Discount rate for pension plans Concept (Percent) As Of slf:ActuarialAssumptionOfDiscountRatesNetBenefitExpense
2428 Rate of compensation increase Concept (Percent) As Of slf:ActuarialAssumptionOfExpectedRatesOfSalaryIncreasesNetBenefitExpense
2429 Pension increases Concept (Percent) As Of slf:ActuarialAssumptionOfExpectedRatesOfPensionIncreasesNetBenefitExpense
2430 Health care trend rates: Abstract slf:HealthCareTrendRatesAbstract
2431 Initial health care trend rate Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfMedicalCostTrendRates
2432 Ultimate health care trend rate Concept (Percent) As Of slf:ActuarialAssumptionOfUltimateMedicalCostTrendRates
2433 Year ultimate health care trend rate reached Concept (Year) For Period slf:YearUltimateHealthCareTrendRateReached
2434 Mortality rates: Abstract slf:MortalityRatesAbstract
2435 Life expectancy (in years) for individuals Concept (Decimal) For Period slf:ActuarialAssumptionOfExpectedLife
2436 Average duration (in years) of pension obligation Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageDurationOfDefinedBenefitObligation
2437 2479407 - Disclosure - Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits - Schedule of Sensitivity Analysis (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/PensionPlansAndOtherPostRetirementBenefitsScheduleOfSensitivityAnalysisDetails
2438 Disclosure of sensitivity analysis for actuarial assumptions [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfSensitivityAnalysisForActuarialAssumptionsTable
2439 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
2440 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
2441 Pension Member slf:PensionPlansDefinedBenefit1Member
2442 Other post-retirement Member slf:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlan1Member
2443 Actuarial assumptions [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionsAxis
2444 Actuarial assumptions [member] Member ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionsMember
2445 Interest/discount rate sensitivity Member ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfDiscountRatesMember
2446 Rate of compensation increase assumption Member ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfExpectedRatesOfSalaryIncreasesMember
2447 Health care trend rate assumption Member ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfMedicalCostTrendRatesMember
2448 Mortality rates Member slf:ActuarialAssumptionOfExpectedLifeMember
2449 Disclosure of sensitivity analysis for actuarial assumptions [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfSensitivityAnalysisForActuarialAssumptionsLineItems
2450 Increase (decrease) in defined benefit obligation due to reasonably possible decrease in actuarial assumption Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseInDefinedBenefitObligationDueToReasonablyPossibleDecreaseInActuarialAssumption
2451 Increase (decrease) in defined benefit obligation due to reasonably possible increase in actuarial assumption Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseInDefinedBenefitObligationDueToReasonablyPossibleIncreaseInActuarialAssumption
2452 Percentage of reasonably possible decrease in actuarial assumption Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:PercentageOfReasonablyPossibleDecreaseInActuarialAssumption
2453 Percentage of reasonably possible increase in actuarial assumption Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:PercentageOfReasonablyPossibleIncreaseInActuarialAssumption
2454 2479408 - Disclosure - Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits - Schedule of Plan Asset Allocation (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/PensionPlansAndOtherPostRetirementBenefitsScheduleOfPlanAssetAllocationDetails
2455 Implied Table Table

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 implied:Table
2456 Employee Benefits [Abstract] Abstract slf:EmployeeBenefitsAbstract
2457 Equity investments Concept (Percent) As Of slf:EquityInstrumentsAmountContributedToFairValueOfPlanAssetsAllocationPercentage
2458 Fixed income investments Concept (Percent) As Of slf:FixedIncomeInstrumentsAmountContributedToFairValueOfPlanAssetsAllocationPercentage
2459 Real estate investments Concept (Percent) As Of slf:RealEstateAmountContributedToFairValueOfPlanAssetsAllocationPercentage
2460 Qualifying insurance contract Concept (Percent) As Of slf:QualifyingInsuranceContractAmountContributedToFairValueOfPlanAssetsAllocationPercentage
2461 Other Concept (Percent) As Of slf:OtherAssetsAmountContributedToFairValueOfPlanAssetsAllocationPercentage
2462 Total composition of fair value of plan assets Concept (Percent) As Of slf:PlanAssetsAtFairValueAllocationPercentage
2463 2479409 - Disclosure - Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits - Schedule of Expected Contributions (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/PensionPlansAndOtherPostRetirementBenefitsScheduleOfExpectedContributionsDetails
2464 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [table] Table

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 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansTable
2465 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
2466 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
2467 Pension Member slf:PensionPlansDefinedBenefit1Member
2468 Other post-retirement Member slf:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlan1Member
2469 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansLineItems
2470 Expected contributions for the next 12 months Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:EstimateOfContributionsExpectedToBePaidToPlan
2471 2479410 - Disclosure - Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits - Schedule of Expected Future Benefit Payments (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/PensionPlansAndOtherPostRetirementBenefitsScheduleOfExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsDetails
2472 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [table] Table

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 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansTable
2473 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
2474 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
2475 Pension Member slf:PensionPlansDefinedBenefit1Member
2476 Other post-retirement Member slf:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlan1Member
2477 Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansLineItems
2478 2019 Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:ExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentNextAnnualReportingPeriod
2479 2020 Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:ExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentYearTwo
2480 2021 Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:ExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentYearThree
2481 2022 Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:ExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentYearFour
2482 2023 Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:ExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentYearFive
2483 2024 to 2028 Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit slf:ExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
2484 2480402 - Disclosure - Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/EarningsLossPerShareCalculationOfBasicAndDilutedEarningsPerShareDetails
2485 Earnings per share [table] Table

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*

 ifrs-full:EarningsPerShareTable
2486 Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share By Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Axis slf:AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecurities1Axis
2487 Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share By Antidilutive Securities [Domain] Member slf:AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecurities1Domain
2488 Stock Option Member slf:EmployeeStockOption1Member
2489 Earnings per share [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:EarningsPerShareLineItems
2490 Common shareholders' net income (loss) for basic earnings per share Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossAttributableToOrdinaryEquityHoldersOfParentEntity
2491 Add: Increase in income due to convertible instruments Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:AdjustmentToProfitLossForConvertibleInstruments
2492 Common shareholders' net income (loss) on a diluted basis Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossAttributableToOrdinaryEquityHoldersOfParentEntityIncludingDilutiveEffects
2493 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for basic earnings per share (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageShares
2494 Dilutive impact of stock options (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period ifrs-full:DilutiveEffectOfShareOptionsOnNumberOfOrdinaryShares
2495 Dilutive impact of convertible instruments (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period ifrs-full:DilutiveEffectOfConvertibleInstrumentsOnNumberOfOrdinaryShares
2496 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding on a diluted basis (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period ifrs-full:AdjustedWeightedAverageShares
2497 Basic earnings (loss) per share (in CAD per share) Concept (Share) For Period ifrs-full:BasicEarningsLossPerShare
2498 Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in CAD per share) Concept (Share) For Period ifrs-full:DilutedEarningsLossPerShare
2499 Stock options excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period slf:AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount1
2500 2481402 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Non-Controlling Interests - Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax (Details) Network

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 http://www.sunlife.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAndNonControllingInterestsSummaryOfChangesInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxDetails
2501 Disclosure of analysis of other comprehensive income by item [table] Table

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 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfAnalysisOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeByItemTable
2502 Components of equity [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ComponentsOfEquityAxis
2503 Equity [member] Member ifrs-full:EquityMember
2504 Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of hedging activities Member ifrs-full:ReserveOfExchangeDifferencesOnTranslationMember
2505 Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale assets Member ifrs-full:ReserveOfGainsAndLossesOnRemeasuringAvailableforsaleFinancialAssetsMember
2506 Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges Member ifrs-full:ReserveOfCashFlowHedgesMember
2507 Share of other comprehensive income (loss) in joint ventures and associates Member ifrs-full:ReserveOfGainsAndLossesFromInvestmentsInEquityInstrumentsMember
2508 Remeasurement of defined benefit plans Member ifrs-full:ReserveOfRemeasurementsOfDefinedBenefitPlansMember
2509 Revaluation surplus on transfers to investment properties Member ifrs-full:RevaluationSurplusMember
2510 Participating policyholders Member slf:ParticipatingPolicyholdersMember
2511 Shareholders Member ifrs-full:EquityAttributableToOwnersOfParentMember
2512 Retained earnings Member ifrs-full:RetainedEarningsMember
2513 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes Member ifrs-full:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
2514 Disclosure of analysis of other comprehensive income by item [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfAnalysisOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeByItemLineItems
2515 Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
2516 Other comprehensive income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncome
2517 Other Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit slf:OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOther
2518 Accumulated other comprehensive income, ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
2519 Transfer to retained earnings (from accumulated other comprehensive income) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughTransfersAndOtherChangesEquity

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