Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)							$ (168)		$ (38)		$ 434
Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)							(37)	[1],[2],[3],[4]	148	[5],[6],[7]	316	[8],[9],[10]
Pre-tax gain on sale of business, continuing operations											240
Agriculture [Member] | Imprelis [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Insurance recoveries											210
Insurance recoveries, net of legal expenses	$ 30			$ 147		$ 35	30		182
Loss contingency accrual, period decrease		$ 23	$ 130				23		130
Electronics & Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)							4	[3],[4]	(78)	[6],[7]	(84)	[8]
Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)							(152)	[3],[4],[11]	(61)	[6],[7]	(20)	[8]
Nutrition & Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)							9	[3],[4]	(50)	[6],[7]	(15)	[8]
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)							5	[3],[4]	(62)	[6],[7]	292	[8],[12]
Protection Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)							14	[3],[4]	105	[6],[7],[13]	(45)	[8]
Gain related to litigation settlement			$ 33		$ 112				145
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)							(11)	[3]	(40)	[6],[7],[14]	(10)	[8]
2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges											(541)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							8		10
Restructuring charges											(407)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(1)		3
Restructuring charges											(134)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Electronics & Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(2)		(15)
Restructuring charges											(84)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(1)		1
Restructuring charges											(20)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Nutrition & Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(2)		3
Restructuring charges											(15)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(1)		1
Restructuring charges											(99)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Protection Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(1)		(4)
Restructuring charges											(45)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges											(476)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges											(342)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other income, net [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions											(65)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other income, net [Member] | Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions											(65)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(85)
Restructuring charges									(798)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(3)
Restructuring charges									(468)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							23
Restructuring charges									(161)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Electronics & Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(2)
Restructuring charges									(93)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(5)
Restructuring charges									(60)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Nutrition & Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(7)
Restructuring charges									(47)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(4)
Restructuring charges									(61)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Protection Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(13)
Restructuring charges									(44)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							11
Restructuring charges									(2)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment							(88)
Restructuring charges									(793)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges									(463)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other income, net [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions							(3)		(5)
La Porte [Member] | Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges							(68)
GLS/Vinyls [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain on sale of business, continuing operations											$ 391
Cost basis investment impairment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost basis investment impairment									(37)
Cost basis investment impairment [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost basis investment impairment									$ (37)
Trade Names [Member] | Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)							$ (158)

[1] Included $30 of net insurance recoveries recorded in other operating charges for recovery of costs for customer claims related to the use of the Imprelis® herbicide. Included a benefit of $23 in other operating charges for reduction in the accrual for customer claims related to the use of the Imprelis® herbicide.

[2] Includes a $(68) restructuring charge recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net for the year ended December 31, 2016, related to the decision not to re-start the insecticide manufacturing facility at the La Porte site located in La Porte, Texas. See Note 4 for additional information.

[3] The company recorded a $(3) net restructuring charge in employee separation / asset related charges, net for the year ended December 31, 2016, associated with the 2016 global cost savings and restructuring program. See Note 4 for additional information.

[4] The company recorded a $8 restructuring benefit recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net, for adjustments to the previously recognized severance costs related to the 2014 restructuring program. See Note 4 for additional information.

[5] Included $182 of net insurance recoveries recorded in other operating charges for recovery of costs for customer claims related to the use of the Imprelis® herbicide. Included a benefit of $130 in other operating charges for reduction in the accrual for customer claims related to the use of the Imprelis® herbicide.

[6] Included a $(468) restructuring charge consisting of $(463) recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net and $(5) recorded in other income, net associated with the 2016 global cost savings and restructuring program. See Note 4 for additional information.

[7] Included a $10 net restructuring benefit recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net, associated with the 2014 restructuring program. These adjustments were primarily due to the identification of additional projects in certain segments, offset by lower than estimated individual severance costs and workforce reductions achieved through non-severance programs. See Note 4 for additional information.

[8] Included a $(407) restructuring charge associated with the 2014 restructuring program consisting of $(342) recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net and $(65) recorded in other income, net. See Note 4 for additional information.

[9] Included a gain of $240 recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of the copper fungicide and land management businesses, both within the Agriculture segment.

[10] Included income of $210 for insurance recoveries, recorded in other operating charges associated with the company's process to fairly resolve claims related to the use of Imprelis®

[11] The company recorded a $(158) charge in employee separation / asset related charges, net, for the year ended December 31, 2016, related to the write-down of indefinite lived intangible assets. See Note 4 for additional information.

[12] Included a gain of $391 recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of Glass Laminating Solutions / Vinyls. See Note 3 for additional information.

[13] Included a gain of $145, net of legal expenses, recorded in other income, net related to the company's settlement of a legal claim.

[14] Included a $(37) pre-tax impairment charge recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net for a cost basis investment. See Note 4 for additional information.