Document And Entity Information - $ / shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Aug. 02, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
City Area Code	(703)
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	4300 Wilson Boulevard
Entity Tax Identification Number	54-1163725
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2021
Entity File Number	1-12291
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
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
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	22203
Entity Address, City or Town	Arlington,
Entity Address, State or Province	VA
Local Phone Number	522-1315
Document Transition Report	false
Document Quarterly Report	true
Subsequent Event [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		666,359,739
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Trading Symbol	AES
Entity Listing, Description	NYSE
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
corporate units
Document Information [Line Items]
Trading Symbol	AESC
Entity Listing, Description	NYSE
Title of 12(b) Security	Corporate Units