XML 365 R258.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

New Standards and Interpretations Adopted in the Current Year - Additional information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Jan. 01, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
--- | --- | --- | ---
Disclosure of initial application of standards or interpretations [Line Items] |  |  |
Right of use assets – leased | $ 1,022 | $ 1,065 | $ 0
Net assets/(liabilities) |  | 45,242 | 49,823
Retained earnings |  | $ 23,387 | 27,025
I F R S16 [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of initial application of standards or interpretations [Line Items] |  |  |
Lease liabilities | 1,292 |  | 1,717
IFRIC 23 [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of initial application of standards or interpretations [Line Items] |  |  |
Provision for income tax | 44 |  |
Lease liabilities [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of initial application of standards or interpretations [Line Items] |  |  |
Lease liabilities | 1,248 |  |
Lease liabilities [member] | I F R S16 [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of initial application of standards or interpretations [Line Items] |  |  |
Right of use assets – leased | $ 1,067 |  |
Net assets/(liabilities) |  |  | 110
Retained earnings |  |  | $ 69
Weighted average lessee's incremental borrowing rate applied to lease liabilities recognised at date of initial application of IFRS 16 | 4.70% |  |

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_DisclosureOfInitialApplicationOfStandardsOrInterpretationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of liabilities related to the entity's leases. Lease is a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an underlying asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 47 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_47_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_LeaseLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of assets less the amount of liabilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IFRS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph IG63 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_IG63&doctype=Implementation%20Guidance -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 112 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NetAssetsLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition A component of equity representing the entity's cumulative undistributed earnings or deficit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 78 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_78_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph IG6 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_IG6&doctype=Implementation%20Guidance -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_RetainedEarnings
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of assets that represent a lessee's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term. Underlying asset is an asset that is the subject of a lease, for which the right to use that asset has been provided by a lessor to a lessee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 53 -Subparagraph j -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_53_j&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_RightofuseAssets
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The weighted average lessee's incremental borrowing rate applied to lease liabilities recognised in the statement of financial position at the date of initial application of IFRS 16. The incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest that a lessee would have to pay to borrow over a similar term, and with a similar security, the funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph C12 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_C12_a&doctype=Appendix&subtype=C -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_WeightedAverageLesseesIncrementalBorrowingRateAppliedToLeaseLiabilitiesRecognisedAtDateOfInitialApplicationOfIFRS16
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Provision for income tax. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_ProvisionForIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NewIFRSsAxis=rio_IFRS16Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NewIFRSsAxis=rio_IFRIC23Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_BorrowingsByNameAxis=ifrs-full_LeaseLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |