Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 22, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019
Document Type	10-K
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
City Area Code	(703)
Entity Address, Address Line One	4300 Wilson Boulevard
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Document Transition Report	false
Document Quarterly Report	true
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Entity File Number	1-12291
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ (8,000,000)			$ (8,000,000)	$ (14.16)
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	AES
Entity Registrant Name	THE AES CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0000874761
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		665,479,845
Entity current reporting status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity voluntary filers	No
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 9,420,000,000
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.01			$ 0.01
Entity Tax Identification Number	54-1163725
Entity Address, City or Town	Arlington,
Entity Address, State or Province	VA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	22203
Local Phone Number	522-1315
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true