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Risk Management Activities - Credit Risk - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Counter party exposure [member]
Disclosure Of Financial Risk Management [line items]
Percentage of maximum investment in financial institutions' equity	2.50%

X

- Definition

Line items represents information about financial risk management.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_DisclosureOfFinancialRiskManagementLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Percentage of maximum investment in financial institutions' equity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_PercentageOfMaximumInvestmentInFinancialInstitutionsEquity
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_TypesOfRisksAxis=gfi_CounterPartyExposureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: