Note 26 - Loss Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (numerator for basic and diluted loss per share)	$ (9,504)	$ (789)	$ (10,069)	$ (1,876)
Basic and diluted (in shares)	15,866,305	11,999,304	15,676,249	11,990,950
Basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.60)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.64)	$ (0.16)

The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share in instances when basic and diluted earnings per share are the same amount and reported as a single line item on the face of the financial statements. Basic earnings per share is the amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share includes the amount of net income or loss for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109260490&loc=d3e1337-109256

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration