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Group statement of changes in equity (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2017
Statement Of Changes In Equity [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Dividends per share: paid during the period | $ 1.8 |  | $ 1.25 |
Dividends per share: proposed in the announcement of the results for the period |  |  | $ 1.1 |
Share buyback | $ 1,444 | [1] | $ 300 | [2]
Own shares purchased from owners of Rio Tinto | $ 1,501 |  | $ 252 |
[1] | Total amount of US$1,444 million includes own shares purchased from owners of Rio Tinto plc as per the cash flow statement of US$1,501 million adjusted for the movement in a financial liability recognised in respect of irrevocable contracts in place as at 30 June 2018 and 31 December 2017 to cover the share buy-back programme.
[2] | Total amount of US$300 million includes own shares purchased from owners of Rio Tinto plc as per the cash flow statement of US$252 million and a financial liability recognised in respect of an irrevocable contract in place as at 30 June 2017 to cover the share buy-back programme.

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- Definition The amount, per share, of dividends proposed or declared before financial statements were authorised for issue but not recognised as distribution to owners. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 137 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_137_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount, per share, of dividends recognised as distributions to owners. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 107 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_107&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow to acquire or redeem entity's shares. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_17_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition Purchase of entity shares pursuant to share buy back. + References No definition available. + Details
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