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Segment Reporting - Reconciliation of Segment Profits to Income before Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Profits	$ 4,861	$ 2,987
Interest income	7	11
Interest expense	(243)	(200)
Amortization	(699)	(514)
Depreciation	(421)	(378)
Research and development	(2,576)	(2,412)
Restructuring costs	(53)	(297)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Profits	10,086	7,161
Operating Segments | Pharmaceutical segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Profits	9,501	6,589
Operating Segments | Animal Health segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Profits	585	572
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Profits	194	(50)
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	7	11
Interest expense	(243)	(200)
Amortization	(699)	(514)
Depreciation	(378)	(340)
Research and development	(2,446)	(2,305)
Restructuring costs	(53)	(297)
Other unallocated, net	$ (1,607)	$ (479)

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