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Employee benefits - Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Profitability projections of investments period (in years)	10 years
Percentage of reasonably possible increase in actuarial assumption	(1.00%)
Percentage of reasonably possible decrease in actuarial assumption	(1.00%)
Overfunded pension plans | Discount rate
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Nominal discount rate - 1.0% increase - Actuarial liability balance	$ 2,838
Assumptions made (as a percent)	7.62%
Nominal discount rate - 1.0% reduction - Actuarial liability balance	$ 3,424
Assumptions made (as a percent)	5.62%
Overfunded pension plans | Brazil
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Nominal average rate to determine expense/ income	7.18%
Nominal average rate of salary increase	3.80%
Nominal average rate of benefit increase	3.80%	3.80%
Nominal average rate of price inflation		3.80%
Overfunded pension plans | Brazil | Minimum
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Discount rate to determine benefit obligation	6.62%	6.99%
Nominal average rate to determine expense/ income	6.62%	6.99%
Nominal average rate of salary increase		5.88%
Nominal average rate of price inflation	3.31%
Overfunded pension plans | Brazil | Maximum
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Discount rate to determine benefit obligation	7.18%	7.32%
Nominal average rate to determine expense/ income		7.32%
Nominal average rate of salary increase		5.88%
Nominal average rate of price inflation	3.80%
Underfunded pension plans | Discount rate
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Nominal discount rate - 1.0% increase - Actuarial liability balance	$ 4,064
Assumptions made (as a percent)	4.20%
Nominal discount rate - 1.0% reduction - Actuarial liability balance	$ 5,295
Assumptions made (as a percent)	2.20%
Underfunded pension plans | Brazil
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Discount rate to determine benefit obligation	6.50%	7.10%
Nominal average rate to determine expense/ income	6.50%	7.10%
Nominal average rate of salary increase	6.00%	6.00%
Nominal average rate of benefit increase	6.00%	6.00%
Nominal average rate of price inflation	3.50%	4.00%
Underfunded pension plans | Foreign
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Discount rate to determine benefit obligation	2.43%	2.96%
Nominal average rate to determine expense/ income	3.04%	3.57%
Nominal average rate of salary increase	3.21%	3.17%
Nominal average rate of benefit increase	3.00%	3.00%
Nominal average rate of price inflation	2.08%	2.10%
Other benefits | Discount rate
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Nominal discount rate - 1.0% increase - Actuarial liability balance	$ 1,509
Assumptions made (as a percent)	4.64%
Nominal discount rate - 1.0% reduction - Actuarial liability balance	$ 2,016
Assumptions made (as a percent)	2.64%
Other benefits | Brazil
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Immediate health care cost trend rate		6.91%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate		6.91%
Nominal average rate of price inflation		3.80%
Other benefits | Brazil | Minimum
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Discount rate to determine benefit obligation	6.16%	6.99%
Immediate health care cost trend rate	6.35%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	6.35%
Nominal average rate of price inflation	3.25%
Other benefits | Brazil | Maximum
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Discount rate to determine benefit obligation	7.17%	7.39%
Immediate health care cost trend rate	6.91%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	6.91%
Nominal average rate of price inflation	3.80%
Other benefits | Foreign
Actuarial and economic assumptions and sensitivity analysis
Discount rate to determine benefit obligation	2.62%	3.04%
Nominal average rate to determine expense/ income	3.04%	3.66%
Immediate health care cost trend rate	5.35%	5.58%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.56%	4.55%

X

- Definition

The discount rate used as the significant actuarial assumption to determine the present value of a defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Defined benefit obligation, at present value; Actuarial assumptions [member]]

+ References

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The expected rate of inflation that is used as a significant actuarial assumption to determine the present value of a defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Defined benefit plans [member]; Defined benefit obligation, at present value; Actuarial assumptions [member]]

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The expected rate of increases in pension that is used as a significant actuarial assumption to determine the present value of a defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Defined benefit plans [member]; Defined benefit obligation, at present value; Actuarial assumptions [member]]

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The expected rate of salary increases used as a significant actuarial assumption to determine the present value of a defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Defined benefit plans [member]; Defined benefit obligation, at present value; Actuarial assumptions [member]]

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Medical cost trend rate used as significant actuarial assumption to determine the present value of a defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Defined benefit obligation, at present value; Actuarial assumptions [member]]

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The increase (decrease) in a defined benefit obligation that would have been caused by a decrease in a significant actuarial assumption that was reasonably possible at the end of the reporting period. [Refer: Actuarial assumptions [member]]

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The increase (decrease) in a defined benefit obligation that would have been caused by an increase in a significant actuarial assumption that was reasonably possible at the end of the reporting period. [Refer: Actuarial assumptions [member]]

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The reasonably possible percentage of the decrease in the actuarial assumption used to determine the present value of defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Actuarial assumptions [member]]

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The reasonably possible percentage of the increase in the actuarial assumption used to determine the present value of defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Actuarial assumptions [member]]

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The reasonably possible decease in discount rate used as the significant actuarial assumption to determine the present value of a defined benefit obligation.

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