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Operating segments - Reconciliation of net earnings/(losses) to underlying earnings (Parenthetical) (Detail)
$ in Millions
 1 Months Ended 7 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 21, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 14, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 06, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 06, 2018
AUD ($)
Aug. 01, 2018
USD ($)
May 10, 2018
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Aug. 01, 2018
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
Net earnings, Pre-tax                 $ 18,167,000,000 $ 12,816,000,000 $ 6,343,000,000
(Loss)/profit after tax                 13,925,000,000 8,851,000,000 4,776,000,000
Post-tax foreign exchange gains                 936,000,000    
Post-tax foreign exchange loss                 386,000,000    
Impairment loss excluded from underlying earnings                 134,000,000    
Reversal of impairment loss     $ 242,000,000                
Pre-tax gains on disposals of property, plant and equipment             $ 549,000,000   586,000,000 138,000,000 $ 354,000,000
Other income             53,000,000        
Total impact             $ 569,000,000        
Discount rate used in net present value of expected future cash flows for the port and rail capacity                     2.00%
Post-tax onerous contract charge                     $ 329,000,000
Underlying earnings [member]                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
(Loss)/profit after tax                 93,000,000    
Increased closure provision       $ 296              
US Dollar Net Debt [Member]                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
Post-tax foreign exchange gains                   420,000,000 123,000,000
Intragroup balances [Member]                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
Post-tax foreign exchange gains                     $ 393,000,000
Post-tax foreign exchange loss                   908,000,000  
Carbone savoie [Member] | Disposal of subsidiaries [Member]                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
Ownership percentage in subsidiary                     100.00%
Energy Resources of Australia Limited [Member]                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
(Loss)/profit after tax                 $ (241,000,000) $ (29,000,000)  
Ownership percentage in subsidiary     68.00% 68.00%              
Elysis                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
Pre-tax gain on consolidation           $ 171,000,000          
Post-tax gain on consolidation           $ 141,000,000          
Hail Creek [Member]                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
Net earnings, Pre-tax         $ 1,141,000,000            
(Loss)/profit after tax         836,000,000            
Percentage of ownership interest exchanged in joint venture               82.00%      
Kestrel Underground Coal Mine [Member]                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
Net earnings, Pre-tax         1,010,000,000            
(Loss)/profit after tax         $ 724,000,000            
Percentage of ownership interest exchanged in joint venture               80.00%      
Dunkerque Aluminium Smelter [Member]                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
Net earnings, Pre-tax   $ 128,000,000                  
(Loss)/profit after tax   $ 122,000,000                  
Grasberg expansion [member]                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
Net earnings, Pre-tax $ 2,146,000,000                    
Tax payable $ 0                    
Bengalla joint venture [Member] | Disposal of joint ventures [Member]                      
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items]                      
Percentage of ownership interest exchanged in joint venture                     40.00%