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Share capital - Rio Tinto plc - Summary of share capital (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |  |  |
Number of shares held | 0 | 0 | 0
Rio Tinto plc [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |  |  |
Number of issued and fully paid up share capital at beginning balance | 1,287,660,000 | 1,351,609,000 | 1,384,520,000
Issued and fully paid up share capital at beginning balance | $ 211,000 | $ 220,000 | $ 224,000
Ordinary shares issued (in shares) | 40,974 | 35,380 | 26,241
Shares purchased and cancelled | (28,356,034) | (63,984,287) | 32,937,000
Shares purchased and cancelled | $ (4,000) | $ (9,000) | $ (4,000)
Issued and fully paid up share capital at ending balance | $ 207,000 | $ 211,000 | 220,000
Number of shares held by public at beginning balance | 1,287,660,000 | 1,351,609,000 |
Shares purchased and cancelled | $ 41 | $ 35 | $ 26
Number of issued and fully paid up share capital at ending balance | 1,259,345,000 | 1,287,660,000 | 1,351,609,000
Number of shares held by public at ending balance | 1,259,345,000 | 1,287,660,000 | 1,351,609,000
Rio Tinto plc [Member] | Shares held by public [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |  |  |
Ordinary shares issued (in shares) | (28,356,000) | (63,984,000) | (32,937,000)
Number of shares held | 9,421,000 | 9,445,000 | 9,551,000
Shares purchased and cancelled | (28,356,000) | (63,984,000) |
Number of shares held by public at beginning balance | 1,278,215,000 | 1,342,058,000 | 1,374,822,000
Shares reissued from treasury | 24,000 | 106,000 | 147,000
Number of shares held by public at ending balance | 1,249,924,000 | 1,278,215,000 | 1,342,058,000
Rio Tinto plc [Member] | Special voting share [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |  |  |
Other share classes | 1 only | 1 only | 1 only
Rio Tinto plc [Member] | DLC dividend share [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |  |  |
Other share classes | 1 only | 1 only | 1 only
Rio Tinto plc [Member] | Equalisation share [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |  |  |
Other share classes | 1 only | 1 only | 1 only

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