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Share capital - Rio Tinto plc - Summary of share capital (Parenthetical) (Detail) - Rio Tinto plc [Member] $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) £ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) £ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) £ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ordinary shares issued (in shares) | 40,974 | 40,974 | 35,380 | 35,380 | 26,241 | 26,241 |
Number of shares bought back | (28,356,034) |  | (63,984,287) |  | 32,937,000 |  |
Share capital | $ | $ 207.0 | $ 207.0 | $ 211.0 | $ 211.0 | $ 220.0 | $ 220.0 | $ 224.0
Treasury stock reissued | $ | $ 1.0 |  | $ 6.0 |  | $ 2.0 |  |
Rio Tinto Plc employee share based payment plans |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ordinary shares issued (in shares) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Exercise prices per share | £ / shares |  | $ 36.33 |  | $ 16.53 |  | $ 28.63 |
Market value per share | £ / shares |  | $ 49.74 |  | $ 43.79 |  | $ 37.78 |
Rio Tinto Plc employee share based payment plans | Treasury shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares reissued from treasury | 23,659 |  | 106,045 |  | 147,126 |  |
Global employee share plan |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share capital | $ | $ 1.1 | $ 1.1 | $ 1.0 | $ 1.0 | $ 1.0 | $ 1.0 |

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