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Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Textual (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Pension plan net loss [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]    
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans net gain (loss), cost (credit) in AOCI $ 3,500us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= mrk_PensionPlanNetLossMember
$ 1,700us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= mrk_PensionPlanNetLossMember
Other postretirement benefit plan net loss [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]    
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans net gain (loss), cost (credit) in AOCI 228us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= mrk_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlanNetLossMember
80us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= mrk_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlanNetLossMember
Pension plan prior service cost credit [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]    
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans net gain (loss), cost (credit) in AOCI 473us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= mrk_PensionPlanPriorServiceCostMember
559us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= mrk_PensionPlanPriorServiceCostMember
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Prior Service Cost [Member]    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]    
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans net gain (loss), cost (credit) in AOCI $ 257us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= mrk_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlanPriorServiceCostMember
$ 331us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= mrk_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlanPriorServiceCostMember