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Segment Reporting - Reconciliation of Segment Profits to Income Before Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	$ 274	$ 343	$ 385
Interest expense	(893)	(772)	(754)
Depreciation and amortization	(3,652)	(4,519)	(4,676)
Research and development	(9,872)	(9,752)	(10,339)
Restructuring costs	(638)	(632)	(776)
Loss on extinguishment of debt			(191)
Income Before Taxes	11,464	8,701	6,521
Total segment profits
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	(256)	(335)	(212)
Income Before Taxes	29,926	26,633	24,845
Total segment profits | Pharmaceutical segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	(137)	(243)	(125)
Income Before Taxes	28,324	24,871	23,018
Total segment profits | Animal Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	(109)	(82)	(75)
Income Before Taxes	1,609	1,659	1,552
Total segment profits | Other segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	(10)	(10)	(12)
Income Before Taxes	(7)	103	275
Other profits
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income Before Taxes	363	6	26
Unallocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	274	343	385
Interest expense	(893)	(772)	(754)
Depreciation and amortization	(1,573)	(1,334)	(1,378)
Research and development	(9,499)	(9,432)	(10,004)
Amortization of purchase accounting adjustments	(1,419)	(2,664)	(3,056)
Restructuring costs	(638)	(632)	(776)
Charge related to the termination of a collaboration with Samsung	0	(423)	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(191)
Other unallocated, net	$ (5,077)	$ (3,024)	$ (2,576)

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