Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 27, 2020
Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-35565
Entity Registrant Name	AbbVie Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001551152
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	32-0375147
Entity Address, Address Line One	1 North Waukegan Road
Entity Address, City or Town	North Chicago
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60064-6400
City Area Code	847
Local Phone Number	932-7900
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,765,473,923
Common Stock [Member] | NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. [Member]
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	ABBV
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Common Stock [Member] | CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE, INC [Member]
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	ABBV
Security Exchange Name	CHX
Sec 1.375 Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member] | NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. [Member]
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	1.375% Senior Notes due 2024
Trading Symbol	ABBV24
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Sec 0.750 Senior Notes Due 2027 [Member] | NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. [Member]
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	0.750% Senior Notes due 2027
Trading Symbol	ABBV27
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Sec 2.125 Senior Notes due 2028 [Member] | NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. [Member]
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	2.125% Senior Notes due 2028
Trading Symbol	ABBV28
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Sec 1.250 Senior Notes due 2031 | NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. [Member]
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	1.250% Senior Notes due 2031
Trading Symbol	ABBV31
Security Exchange Name	NYSE