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Dividends - Summary of number of shares dividend distributed (Detail) - shares shares in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Rio Tinto plc [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Dividends [Line Items] |  |  |
Previous year final dividend number of shares |  | 1,334.8 | 1,374.6
Interim dividend number of shares |  | 1,308.4 | 1,366.1
Rio Tinto Limited [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Dividends [Line Items] |  |  |
Previous year final dividend number of shares |  | 412.4 | 424.0
Interim dividend number of shares |  | 412.4 | 424.0
Final Dividends [Member] | Rio Tinto plc [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Dividends [Line Items] |  |  |
Previous year final dividend number of shares | 1,265.0 |  |
Interim dividend number of shares | 1,256.4 |  |
Final Dividends [Member] | Rio Tinto Limited [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Dividends [Line Items] |  |  |
Previous year final dividend number of shares | 371.2 |  |
Interim dividend number of shares | 371.2 |  |
Special Dividends [Member] | Rio Tinto plc [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Dividends [Line Items] |  |  |
Previous year final dividend number of shares | 1,265.0 |  |
Interim dividend number of shares | 1,256.4 |  |
Special Dividends [Member] | Rio Tinto Limited [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Dividends [Line Items] |  |  |
Previous year final dividend number of shares | 371.2 |  |
Interim dividend number of shares | 371.2 |  |

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