XML 450 R247.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Share-based payments -Management Share Plans, Bonus Deferral Plans, Global Employee Share Plans and UK Share Plan (combined) (Detail) | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 AUD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2017 AUD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2018 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2017 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2016 AUD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 GBP (£)
Share Incentive Plans | Rio Tinto plc [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares at beginning balance | 3,042,020 |  | 3,473,092 |  | 3,042,020 | 3,473,092 | 3,305,966 | 3,305,966
Number of non-vested shares, awarded | 1,135,103 | 1,135,103 | 1,499,374 | 1,499,374 |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares, forfeited | 250,853 | 250,853 | 159,669 | 159,669 |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares, Cancelled | (33,563) | (33,563) | (51,773) | (51,773) |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares, vested | 1,281,759 | 1,281,759 | 1,120,806 | 1,120,806 |  |  |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares at beginning balance |  |  |  |  | £ 31.43 | £ 27.23 |  | £ 26.00
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares, awarded |  | £ 39.49 |  | £ 32.50 |  |  |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares, forfeited |  | 30.26 |  | 29.46 |  |  |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares, cancelled |  | 26.52 |  | 25.82 |  |  |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares, vested |  | £ 27.54 |  | £ 30.41 |  |  |  |
Share Incentive Plans | Rio Tinto Limited [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares at beginning balance | 2,613,930 |  | 2,933,237 |  | 2,613,930 | 2,933,237 | 2,986,080 | 2,986,080
Number of non-vested shares, awarded | 943,315 | 943,315 | 1,156,078 | 1,156,078 |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares, forfeited | 185,062 | 185,062 | 127,905 | 127,905 |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares, Cancelled | (36,613) | (36,613) | (95,203) | (95,203) |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares, vested | 1,040,947 | 1,040,947 | 985,813 | 985,813 |  |  |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares at beginning balance | $ | $ 61.71 |  | $ 54.15 |  |  |  | $ 53.32 |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares, awarded | $ | 78.36 |  | 61.05 |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares, forfeited | $ | 64.60 |  | 53.61 |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares, cancelled | $ | 52.84 |  | 51.18 |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares, vested | $ | $ 55.30 |  | $ 60.06 |  |  |  |  |
Management share plans [member] | Rio Tinto plc [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares at beginning balance | 1,666,082 |  | 1,897,318 |  | 1,666,082 | 1,897,318 |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares at beginning balance |  |  |  |  | £ 32.52 | £ 27.99 |  |
Number of vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) | 669,678 | 669,678 | 653,776 | 653,776 |  |  |  |
Weighted average share price, Vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) |  | £ 40.03 |  | £ 35.33 |  |  |  |
Management share plans [member] | Rio Tinto Limited [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares at beginning balance | 1,520,292 |  | 1,617,838 |  | 1,520,292 | 1,617,838 |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares at beginning balance | $ | $ 64.06 |  | $ 55.42 |  |  |  |  |
Number of vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) | 570,173 | 570,173 | 577,083 | 577,083 |  |  |  |
Weighted average share price, Vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) | $ | $ 80.87 |  | $ 67.93 |  |  |  |  |
Bonus deferral plans [member] | Rio Tinto plc [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares at beginning balance | 203,900 |  | 281,994 |  | 203,900 | 281,994 |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares at beginning balance |  |  |  |  | £ 37.86 | £ 25.53 |  |
Number of vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) | 221,198 | 221,198 | 170,036 | 170,036 |  |  |  |
Weighted average share price, Vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) |  | £ 37.69 |  | £ 34.44 |  |  |  |
Bonus deferral plans [member] | Rio Tinto Limited [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares at beginning balance | 127,423 |  | 153,966 |  | 127,423 | 153,966 |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares at beginning balance | $ | $ 71.93 |  | $ 52.83 |  |  |  |  |
Number of vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) | 108,001 | 108,001 | 88,644 | 88,644 |  |  |  |
Weighted average share price, Vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) | $ | $ 75.36 |  | $ 69.98 |  |  |  |  |
Global employee share plans [member] | Rio Tinto plc [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares at beginning balance | 1,102,322 |  | 1,196,937 |  | 1,102,322 | 1,196,937 |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares at beginning balance |  |  |  |  | £ 28.68 | £ 26.42 |  |
Number of vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) | 451,710 | 451,710 | 382,585 | 382,585 |  |  |  |
Weighted average share price, Vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) |  | £ 39.06 |  | £ 33.56 |  |  |  |
Global employee share plans [member] | Rio Tinto Limited [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares at beginning balance | 966,215 |  | 1,161,433 |  | 966,215 | 1,161,433 |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares at beginning balance | $ | $ 56.66 |  | $ 52.54 |  |  |  |  |
Number of vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) | 473,420 | 473,420 | 466,308 | 466,308 |  |  |  |
Weighted average share price, Vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) | $ | $ 78.78 |  | $ 65.10 |  |  |  |  |
UK share plan [member] | Rio Tinto plc [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of non-vested shares at beginning balance | 69,716 |  | 96,843 |  | 69,716 | 96,843 |  |
Weighted average fair value at grant date, non-vested shares at beginning balance |  |  |  |  | £ 29.90 | £ 27.14 |  |
Number of vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) | 16,968 | 16,968 | 11,120 | 11,120 |  |  |  |
Weighted average share price, Vested awards settled in shares during the year (including dividend shares applied on vesting) |  | £ 38.21 |  | £ 34.56 |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of other equity instruments (ie other than share options) granted in a share-based payment arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 47 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_47_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_45&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NumberOfInstrumentsOtherEquityInstrumentsGranted
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of other equity instruments (ie other than share options) exercised or vested in a share-based payment arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_45&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsExercisedOrVestedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of other equity instruments (ie other than share options) forfeited in a share-based payment arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_45&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsForfeitedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of other equity instruments (ie other than share options) outstanding in a share-based payment arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_45&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The weighted average exercise price of other equity instruments (ie other than share options) exercised or vested in a share-based payment arrangement. [Refer: Weighted average [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_45&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfOtherEquityInstrumentsExercisedOrVestedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The weighted average exercise price of other equity instruments (ie other than share options) forfeited in a share-based payment arrangement. [Refer: Weighted average [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_45&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfOtherEquityInstrumentsForfeitedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The weighted average exercise price of other equity instruments (ie other than share options) granted in a share-based payment arrangement. [Refer: Weighted average [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_45&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfOtherEquityInstrumentsGrantedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The weighted average exercise price of other equity instruments (ie other than share options) outstanding in a share-based payment arrangement. [Refer: Weighted average [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_45&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfOtherEquityInstrumentsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of equity-settled awards vested in share-based payment arrangement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_NumberOfEquitysettledAwardsVestedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of other equity instruments cancelled. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsCancelled
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Weighted average fair value at grant date of nonvested shares cancelled. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_WeightedAverageFairValueAtGrantDateOfNonvestedSharesCancelled
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Weighted average share price of equity-settled awards vested in share-based payment arrangement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_WeightedAverageSharePriceOfEquitysettledAwardsVestedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis=rio_ShareIncentivePlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=rio_RioTintoPlcMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=rio_RioTintoLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis=rio_ManagementSharePlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis=rio_BonusDeferralPlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis=rio_GlobalEmployeeSharePlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis=rio_UkSharePlanMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |