Cover Page	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	20-F
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	PSO
Entity Registrant Name	PEARSON PLC
Entity Central Index Key	0000938323
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	782,098,929
Document Registration Statement	false
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Shell Company Report	false
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Title of 12(b) Security	Ordinary Shares
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Address, Country	GB
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
American Depositary Shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	American Depositary Shares
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
No Trading Symbol Flag	true