XML 19 R33.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Income taxes (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Income taxes (Textual) [Abstract]    
Effective income tax rate 13.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 10.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Increase in gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits for period $ 100us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions  
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]    
Income taxes (Textual) [Abstract]    
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities $ 70us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
 
Puerto Rico Excise Tax [Member]    
Puerto Rico Excise Tax Rate [Line Items]    
Excise tax rate effective July 1, 2013 through 2017 4.00%amgn_ExciseTaxRateEffectiveJulyOneTwoThousandThirteenthroughTwoThousandSeventeen
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= amgn_PuertoRicoExciseTaxMember