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Share Capital - Rio Tinto Limited
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Disclosure of classes of share capital [abstract]  
Share capital - Rio Tinto Limited
27 Share capital – Rio Tinto Limited
2021
Number
(million)
2020
Number
(million)
2019
Number
(million)
2021
US$m
2020
US$m
2019
US$m
Issued and fully paid up share capital
At 1 January
371.21371.21371.213,781 3,448 3,477 
Adjustment on currency translation
(211)333 (29)
At 31 December
371.21371.21371.213,570 3,781 3,448 
– Special Voting Share(a)
1 only1 only1 only
– DLC Dividend Share(a)
1 only1 only1 only
Total share capital
371.21371.21371.21
(a)The “Special Voting Share” was issued to facilitate the joint voting by shareholders of Rio Tinto Limited and Rio Tinto plc on Joint Decisions following the DLC Merger. The “DLC Dividend Share” was issued to facilitate the efficient management of funds within the DLC structure. Directors have the ability to issue an Equalisation Share if that is required under the terms of the DLC Merger Sharing Agreement.

During 2021, US$95 million of shares (2020: US$76 million; 2019: US$63 million) were purchased by employee share ownership trusts on behalf of Rio Tinto Limited to satisfy employee share awards on vesting. At 31 December 2021, 995,173 shares were held in the employee share ownership trusts on behalf of Rio Tinto Limited.
Information relating to share-based incentive schemes is given in note 41.