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Share capital - Rio Tinto plc - Summary of share capital (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items]      
Ordinary shares issued $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Number of shares held (in shares) 0 0 0
Rio Tinto plc      
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items]      
Number of issued and fully paid up share capital at beginning balance (in shares) 1,259,345,000 1,287,660,000 1,351,609,000
Issued and fully paid up share capital at beginning balance $ 207 $ 211 $ 220
Ordinary shares issued (in shares) 39,000.000 41,000.000 35,000.000
Shares purchased and cancelled (in shares) (3,627,568) (28,356,034) (63,984,287)
Shares purchased and cancelled $ 0 $ (4) $ (9)
Issued and fully paid up share capital at ending balance $ 207 $ 207 $ 211
Number of shares held by public at beginning balance 1,259,345,000 1,287,660,000  
Number of issued and fully paid up share capital at ending balance (in shares) 1,255,756,000 1,259,345,000 1,287,660,000
Number of shares held by public at ending balance 1,255,756,000 1,259,345,000 1,287,660,000
Rio Tinto plc | Shares held by public      
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items]      
Ordinary shares issued (in shares) 39,000.000 41,000.000 35,000.000
Number of shares held (in shares) 8,852,000 9,421,000 9,445,000
Shares purchased and cancelled (in shares) 3,628,000 28,356,000 63,984,000
Number of shares held by public at beginning balance 1,249,924,000 1,278,215,000 1,342,058,000.000
Shares reissued from treasury 569,000 24,000.000 106,000
Number of shares held by public at ending balance 1,246,904,000 1,249,924,000 1,278,215,000
Rio Tinto plc | Special voting share      
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items]      
Other share classes 1 only 1 only 1 only
Rio Tinto plc | DLC dividend share      
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items]      
Other share classes 1 only 1 only 1 only
Rio Tinto plc | Equalisation share      
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items]      
Other share classes 1 only 1 only 1 only