Equity (Reclassifications Out of AOCL) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended														12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021		Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021		Mar. 31, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020		Jun. 30, 2020		Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business															$ (1,683)	$ (95)	$ 28
Impairment expenses															(1,575)	(1,066)	(277)
Cost of Goods and Services Sold															8,430	6,967	7,840
General and administrative expenses															166	165	196
Other Expenses															(60)	(53)	(80)
Interest expense															(911)	(1,038)	(1,050)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)															(10)	55	(67)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates															(1,064)	488	1,001
Income tax expense															(133)	216	352
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates															(24)	(123)	(172)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (1,330)	[1]	$ 485	$ (81)	[1]	$ (29)	[1]	$ 401	$ (481)	[2]	$ 0	[2]	$ 229	[2]	(955)	149	477
Net gain from disposal of discontinued operations															4	3	1
Net income (loss)	(1,330)		485	(77)		(29)		401	(481)		3		229		(951)	152	478
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries															542	(106)	(175)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation	$ (632)		$ 343	$ 28		$ (148)		$ 318	$ (333)		$ (83)		$ 144		(409)	46	303
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation															(258)	(264)	(86)
Available-for-Sale securities, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business															(3)	(192)	(23)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation															(3)	(192)	(23)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business															(362)	0	1
Impairment expenses															(13)	(10)	0
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax															(1)	(1)	(1)
Cost of Goods and Services Sold															1	(3)	(12)
Interest expense															(85)	(60)	(26)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)															(15)	(7)	(12)
Income tax expense															105	17	13
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates															(17)	(10)	(5)
Derivative gains (losses), net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates															(475)	(81)	(50)
Income (loss) from continuing operations															(387)	(74)	(42)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation															(254)	(72)	(36)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries															133	2	6
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial losses, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates															(4)	0	(28)
Income (loss) from continuing operations															(1)	0	(28)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation															(1)	0	(27)
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial losses, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Regulated Operation [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold															0	(1)	0
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial losses, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unregulated Operation [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold															1	1	0
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries															0	0	1
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business															0	0	(26)
Other Expenses															(3)	0	2
Income tax expense															$ (3)	$ 0	$ 0

[1] Includes pre-tax impairment expense of $473 million, $872 million, and $201 million in the first, second, and fourth quarters of 2021, respectively (See Note 22—Asset Impairment Expense), and pre-tax loss on sale of business interests of $1.8 billion, primarily due to the deconsolidation of Alto Maipo, in the fourth quarter of 2021 (See Note 24—Held-for-Sale and Dispositions).

[2] Includes pre-tax impairment expense of $849 million in the third quarter of 2020 (See Note 22—Asset Impairment Expense), other-than-temporary impairment of OPGC of $43 million and $158 million in the first and second quarters of 2020, respectively, and net equity in losses of affiliates, primarily at Guacolda, of $112 million in the third quarter of 2020 (See Note 8—Investments in and Advances to Affiliates).