Revenues - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) segment customer	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) customer	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) customer
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Number of operating segments | segment									1
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Number of major customers (as defined) accounting for more than 10% of total revenue | customer									3	3	3
Threshold as a percentage of total revenues for determining a major customer for additional disclosures									10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Major customers (as defined) accounting for more than 10% of gross trade receivables | customer									3	3
Combined trade receivables for all major customers (as defined) as a percentage of net trade receivables	73.00%				76.00%				73.00%	76.00%
Percentage of worldwide gross revenues derived from major customers (as defined) on a combined basis									81.00%
Total product sales									$ 23,362	$ 23,747	$ 22,849
Percentage of net trade receivables due from customers located outside the United States, primarily in Europe	27.00%				23.00%				27.00%	23.00%
US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									$ 17,224	$ 18,358	18,029
ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									6,138	5,389	4,820
Product sales [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales	$ 5,881	$ 5,463	$ 5,574	$ 5,286	$ 6,001	$ 5,510	$ 5,679	$ 5,343	22,204	22,533	21,795
Product sales [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									16,531	17,429	17,131
Product sales [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									5,673	5,104	4,664
Enbrel® (etanercept) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									5,226	5,014	5,433
Enbrel® (etanercept) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									5,050	4,807	5,206
Enbrel® (etanercept) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									176	207	227
Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									3,221	4,475	4,534
Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									2,814	3,866	3,931
Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									407	609	603
Prolia® (denosumab) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									2,672	2,291	1,968
Prolia® (denosumab) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,772	1,500	1,272
Prolia® (denosumab) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									900	791	696
XGEVA® (denosumab) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,935	1,786	1,575
XGEVA® (denosumab) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,457	1,338	1,157
XGEVA® (denosumab) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									478	448	418
Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,729	1,877	2,053
Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									758	942	1,114
Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									971	935	939
Kyprolis [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,044	968	835
Kyprolis [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									654	583	562
Kyprolis [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									390	385	273
EPOGEN® (epoetin alfa) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									867	1,010	1,096
EPOGEN® (epoetin alfa) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									867	1,010	1,096
EPOGEN® (epoetin alfa) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									0	0	0
Sensipar® / Mimpara® (cinacalcet) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									551	1,774	1,718
Sensipar® / Mimpara® (cinacalcet) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									252	1,436	1,374
Sensipar® / Mimpara® (cinacalcet) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									299	338	344
Other products [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									4,959	3,338	2,583
Other products [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									2,907	1,947	1,419
Other products [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									2,052	1,391	1,164
Other revenues [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,158	1,214	1,054
Other revenues [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									693	929	898
Other revenues [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									$ 465	$ 285	156
AmerisourceBergen Corporation [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Amount due from major customer (as defined) as a percentage of gross trade receivables									exceeded 10%	exceeded 10%
AmerisourceBergen Corporation [Member] | Product sales [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									$ 12,301	$ 12,091	10,742
McKesson Corporation [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Amount due from major customer (as defined) as a percentage of gross trade receivables									exceeded 10%	exceeded 10%
McKesson Corporation [Member] | Product sales [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									$ 11,795	$ 11,434	10,625
Cardinal Health, Inc. [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Amount due from major customer (as defined) as a percentage of gross trade receivables									exceeded 10%	exceeded 10%
Cardinal Health, Inc. [Member] | Product sales [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									$ 6,538	$ 7,475	$ 7,049