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Operating segments - Reconciliation of net earnings/(losses) to underlying earnings (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure Of Reconciliation Of Net Earnings Losses To Underlying Earnings [Abstract]      
Impairment charges, Pre-tax $ (132)    
Net gains on consolidation and disposal of interests in businesses, Pre-tax 4,622    
Exchange and derivative gains/(losses), Pre-tax      
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances and derivatives, Pre-tax 694    
Gain/(losses) on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Pre-tax (59)    
(Losses)/gains on embedded commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Pre-tax 288    
Losses from increases to closure estimates (non-operating and fully impaired sites), Pre-tax (376)    
Gain relating to surplus land at Kitimat, Pre-tax 602    
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Pre-tax 5,639    
Net earnings, Pre-tax 18,167 $ 12,816 $ 6,343
Underlying earnings, Pre-tax 12,528    
Impairment charges, Tax 25    
Net gains on consolidation and disposal of interests in businesses, Tax (626)    
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances and derivatives, Tax (136)    
- Gain/(losses) on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Tax 11    
- (Losses)/gains on embedded commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Tax (83)    
Losses from increases to closure estimates (non-operating and fully impaired sites), Tax 41    
Gain relating to surplus land at Kitimat, Tax (33)    
Tax provision     (380)
Tax charge relating to expected divestments, Tax   (202)  
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Tax (801)    
Taxation (4,242) (3,965) (1,567)
Underlying earnings, Tax (3,441)    
Impairment charges, Non-controlling interests 3    
Exchange and derivative gains/(losses, Non-controlling interests      
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances and drivatives, Non-controlling interests (8)    
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Non-controlling interests (8)    
Net earnings, Non-controlling interests (287) (89) (159)
Underlying earnings, Non-controlling interests (279)    
Impairment charges, Net (104) (481) (183)
Net gains on consolidation and disposal of interests in businesses, Net 3,996 2,022 382
Exchange and derivative gains/(losses), Net      
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances and derivatives, Net 550 (488) 516
- Gain/(losses) on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Net (48) 30 (12)
- (Losses)/gains on embedded commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Net 202 (352) 32
Losses from increases to closure estimates (non-operating and fully impaired sites), Net (335)   (282)
Gain relating to surplus land at Kitimat, Net 569    
Changes in corporate tax rates in the US and France, Net   (439)  
Onerous port and rail contracts, Net     (329)
Restructuring costs and global headcount reductions, Net     (177)
Rio Tinto Kennecott insurance settlement, Net   45  
Tax charge relating to expected divestments, Net   (202)  
Other exclusions, Net     (50)
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Net 4,830 135 (483)
– attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (net earnings) 13,638 8,762 4,617
Underlying earnings, Net $ 8,808 $ 8,627 $ 5,100