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Earnings per ordinary share (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Earnings per share [abstract]  
Summary of earnings (loss) per ordinary shares

2020
Earnings
US$m
2020
Weighted
average
number of
shares
(millions)
2020
Per share
amount
(cents)
2019
Earnings
US$m
2019
Weighted
average
number of
shares
(millions)
2019
Per share
amount
(cents)
Basic earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Rio Tinto(a)
9,769 1,617.4 604.0 8,010 1,630.1 491.4 
Diluted earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Rio Tinto(b)
9,769 1,628.6 599.8 8,010 1,642.1 487.8 


2018
Earnings
US$m
2018
Weighted
average
number of
shares
(millions)
2018
Per share
amount
(cents)
Basic earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Rio Tinto(a)
13,638 1,719.3 793.2 
Diluted earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Rio Tinto(b)
13,638 1,731.7 787.6 
(a)The weighted average number of shares is calculated as the average number of Rio Tinto plc shares outstanding not held as treasury shares of 1,246.5 million (2019: 1,259.4 million; 2018: 1,312.7 million) plus the average number of Rio Tinto Limited shares outstanding of 370.9 million (2019: 370.7 million; 2018: 406.6 million) over the relevant period. There were no cross holdings of shares between Rio Tinto Limited and Rio Tinto plc at 31 December 2020 (31 December 2019: nil).
(b)For the purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share, the effect of dilutive securities of 11.2 million shares in 2020 (2019: 12.0 million; 2018: 12.4 million) is added to the weighted average number of shares described in (a) above. This effect is calculated under the treasury stock method, in accordance with IAS 33 “Earnings per Share”. The Group’s only potential dilutive ordinary shares are share options for which terms and conditions are described in note 41.