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Employee benefits - Costs recognized in the statement of comprehensive income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Costs recognized in the statement of comprehensive income
Others comprehensive income	$ (5,492)	$ (848)	$ (3,399)
Overfunded pension plans
Costs recognized in the statement of comprehensive income
Balance at beginning of the year	(173)	(166)	(163)
Effect of changes actuarial assumptions	(118)	(718)	(679)
Return on plan assets (excluding interest income)	(114)	757	479
Change of asset ceiling	278	(60)	172
Others			(1)
Total	46	(21)	(29)
Deferred income tax	(15)	7	10
Others comprehensive income	31	(14)	(19)
Translation adjustments	41	7	23
Transfers/ disposal			(7)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(101)	(173)	(166)
Underfunded pension plans
Costs recognized in the statement of comprehensive income
Balance at beginning of the year	(459)	(468)	(496)
Effect of changes actuarial assumptions	(271)	(373)	172
Return on plan assets (excluding interest income)	305	385	(144)
Others	9
Total	43	12	28
Deferred income tax	(12)	(5)	(7)
Others comprehensive income	31	7	21
Translation adjustments	28	2	11
Transfers/ disposal			(4)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(400)	(459)	(468)
Other benefits
Costs recognized in the statement of comprehensive income
Balance at beginning of the year	(238)	(128)	(189)
Effect of changes actuarial assumptions	(243)	(176)	32
Others	11		(1)
Total	(232)	(176)	31
Deferred income tax	82	63	(8)
Others comprehensive income	(150)	(113)	23
Translation adjustments	25	3	10
Transfers/ disposal			28
Accumulated other comprehensive income	$ (363)	$ (238)	$ (128)

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The amount of income tax relating to amounts recognised in other comprehensive income in relation to remeasurements of defined benefit plans. [Refer: Other comprehensive income; Reserve of remeasurements of defined benefit plans; Defined benefit plans [member]]

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The amount of income and expense (including reclassification adjustments) that is not recognised in profit or loss as required or permitted by IFRSs. [Refer: IFRSs [member]]

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The amount of other comprehensive income, before tax, related to gains (losses) on remeasurements of defined benefit plans, which comprise actuarial gains and losses; the return on plan assets, excluding amounts included in net interest on the net defined benefit liability (asset); and any change in the effect of the asset ceiling, excluding amounts included in net interest on the net defined benefit liability (asset). [Refer: Other comprehensive income, before tax; Defined benefit plans [member]; Plan assets [member]; Net defined benefit liability (asset)]

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The amount of accumulated items of income and expense related to defined benefit plans.

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The a mount of defined benefit plan gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income transferred between different plans or disposed.

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The amount of other comprehensive income, net of tax, related to actuarial gains and losses of defined benefit plans.

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The amount of other comprehensive income, net of tax, other loss (gains) of defined benefit plans.

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