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Operating segments - Reconciliation of net earnings/(losses) to underlying earnings (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Exchange and Derivative Gains (Losses), Pre-Tax [Abstract]      
Impairment charges $ (3,487) $ (132) $ (796)
Net gains on consolidation and disposal of interests in businesses, Pre-tax (291)    
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances and derivatives, Pre-tax 52    
Gain/(losses) on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Pre-tax (72)    
(Losses)/gains on embedded commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Pre-tax (253)    
Other Exclusions From Underlying Earnings Before Tax (171)    
Items Excluded From Underlying Earnings Before Tax (4,222)    
Profit before taxation 11,119 18,167 12,816
Underlying Earnings Before Tax 15,341    
Exchange And Derivative Gains Losses Tax [Abstract]      
Impairment charges, Tax 323 25 141
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances and derivatives, Tax (6)    
- Gain/(losses) on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Tax 15    
- (Losses)/gains on embedded commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting, Tax 65    
Tax Effect Of Other Exclusions (6)    
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Tax 391    
Taxation (4,147) (4,242) (3,965)
Underlying Earnings Tax (4,538)    
Exchange and derivative gains/(losses, Non-controlling interests      
Impairment charges, Non-controlling interests 1,506 3 174
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances and drivatives, Non-controlling interests 5    
– (Losses)/gains on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting (2)    
– Gains/(losses) on embedded commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting (4)    
Other Exclusions From Underlying Earnings, Attributable to Noncontrolling interests (37)    
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Non-controlling interests 1,468    
Profit after tax for the year – attributable to non-controlling interests 1,038 (287) (89)
Underlying Earnings Attributable To Noncontrolling Interests (430)    
Exchange and derivative gains/(losses), Net      
Impairment charge, net amount (1,658) (104) (481)
Net gains on consolidation and disposal of interests in businesses, Net (291) 3,996 2,022
– Exchange (losses)/gains on external US dollar net debt and intragroup balances and derivatives, Net 51 550 (488)
– (Losses)/gains on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting (59) (48) 30
– Gains/(losses) on embedded commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting (192) 202 (352)
Losses from increases to closure estimates (non-operating and fully impaired sites)   (335)  
Gain relating to surplus land at Kitimat, Net   569  
Changes in corporate tax rates in the US and France, Net     (439)
Rio Tinto Kennecott insurance settlement, Net     45
Tax charge relating to expected divestments, included in ire-tax amount     (202)
Other Exclusions From Underlying Earnings Net (214)    
Total excluded from underlying earnings, Net (2,363) 4,830 135
Net earnings – attributable to owners of Rio Tinto 8,010 13,638 8,762
Underlying earnings, Net $ 10,373 $ 8,808 $ 8,627