Shareholders' equity and dividends	12 Months Ended
Shareholders' equity and dividends	Dec. 31, 2021
Shareholders equity and dividends [Abstract]
Shareholders equity and dividends [text block]	18 Shareholders' equity and dividends At 31 December 2021, Equinor’s share capital of NOK 8,144,219,267.50 (USD 1,163,987,792 ) comprised 3,257,687,707 shares at a nominal value of NOK 2.50 . Share capital at 31 December 2020 was NOK 8,144,219,267.50 (USD 1,163,987,792 ) comprised 3,257,687,707 shares at a nominal value of NOK 2.50 . Equinor ASA has only one class of shares and all shares have voting rights. The holders of shares are entitled to receive dividends as and when declared and are entitled to one vote per share at the annual general meeting of the company. During 2021 dividend for the third and for the fourth quarter of 2020 and dividend for the first and second quarter of 2021 were settled. Dividend declared but not yet settled, is presented as dividends payable in the Consolidated balance sheet. The Consolidated statement of changes in equity shows declared dividend in the period (retained earnings). Dividend declared in 2021 relate to the fourth quarter of 2020 and to the first three quarters of 2021. On 8 February 2022, the board of directors proposed to declare a dividend for the fourth quarter of 2021 of USD 0.20 per share and an extraordinary dividend of USD 0.20 per share (subject to annual general meeting approval). The Equinor share will trade ex- dividend 12 May 2022 on Oslo Børs and for ADR holders on New York Stock Exchange. Record date will be 13 May 2022 and payment date will be 27 May 2022. At 31 December (in USD million) 2021 2020 Dividends declared 2,041 1,833 USD per share or ADS 0.6300 0.5600 Dividends paid 1,797 2,330 USD per share or ADS 0.5600 0.7100 NOK per share 4.8078 6.7583 Share buy-back programme In July 2021 Equinor launched the first tranche of around USD 300 million of the new share buy-back programme, for 2021, totalling USD 600 million. In October 2021 Equinor announced an increase in the second tranche of the new share buy-back programme, from initially USD 300 million to USD 1.0 billion. For the first tranche Equinor entered into an irrevocable agreement with a third party for up to USD 99 million of shares to be purchased in the open market, while for the second tranche a similar irrevocable agreement with a third party was entered into for up to USD 330 million of shares to be purchased in the open market. For the first tranche around USD 201 million, and for the second tranche around USD 670 million worth of shares from the Norwegian State will in accordance with an agreement with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy be redeemed at the next annual general meeting in May 2022, in order for the Norwegian State to maintain their ownership percentage in Equinor. The first order in the open market was concluded in September 2021. The second order in the open market was concluded in January 2022. As of 31 December, USD 99 million order from the first trance has been acquired in the open market and the full amount has been settled, while USD 232 million of the USD 330 million second order has been acquired in the open market, of which USD 222 million has been settled. Due to the irrevocable agreement with the third party, both the first and second order in the open market, in total USD 429 million, has been recognised as a reduction in equity as treasury shares. The remaining order of the second tranche has been accrued for and along with acquired shares not settled, classified as Trade, other payables and provisions. The recognition of the State’s share will be deferred until the decision at the annual general meeting in May 2022. On 8 February 2022, the Board announced an annual share buy-back programme for 2022 with up to USD 5.0 billion, including shares to be redeemed from the Norwegian State, subject to authorisation from the annual general meeting. The annual share buy- back programme is expected to be executed when Brent Blend oil price is in or above the range of 50 - 60 USD/bbl, Equinor’s net debt to capital employed adjusted stays within the communicated ambition of 15 - 30 % and this is supported by commodity prices. The purpose of the share buy-back programme is to reduce the issued share capital of the company. All shares repurchased as part of the programme will be cancelled. On 8 February 2022, the board of directors resolved the commencement of the first tranche of the share buy-back programme for 2022 of a total of USD 1.0 billion, including shares to be redeemed from the Norwegian State. The first tranche will end no later than 25 March 2022.. Number of shares 2021 2020 Share buy-back programme at 1 January 0 23,578,410 Purchase 13,460,292 3,142,849 Cancellation 0 (26,721,259) Share buy-back programme at 31 December 13,460,292 0 Employees share saving plan Number of shares 2021 2020 Share saving plan at 1 January 11,442,491 10,074,712 Purchase 3,412,994 4,604,106 Allocated to employees (2,744,381) (3,236,327) Share saving plan at 31 December 12,111,104 11,442,491 In 2021 and 2020 treasury shares were purchased and allocated to employees participating in the share saving plan for USD 75 million and USD 68 million, respectively. For further information, see note 7 Remuneration.