XML 56 R160.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.1

Provision for post-employment benefits - Funded and Unfunded Pension Plans By Region (Detail) - GBP (£) £ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
--- | --- | --- | ---
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | £ (159.0) | £ (183.4) | £ (205.4)
Present value of liabilities | (767.5) | (1,024.0) | (1,135.4)
United Kingdom [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | 0.3 | 33.7 | 31.5
North America [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | (45.2) | (68.7) | (89.2)
Western Continental Europe [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | (79.4) | (104.6) | (107.7)
Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | (34.7) | (43.8) | (40.0)
Funded defined benefit plans [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | (23.8) | (13.3) | (32.0)
Present value of liabilities | (632.3) | (853.9) | (962.0)
Funded defined benefit plans [member] | United Kingdom [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | 0.3 | 33.7 | 31.5
Present value of liabilities | (247.6) | (290.5) | (387.5)
Funded defined benefit plans [member] | North America [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | 12.8 | (4.6) | (21.4)
Present value of liabilities | (286.2) | (375.3) | (385.4)
Funded defined benefit plans [member] | Western Continental Europe [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | (33.3) | (35.8) | (37.9)
Present value of liabilities | (77.6) | (168.4) | (173.3)
Funded defined benefit plans [member] | Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | (3.6) | (6.6) | (4.2)
Present value of liabilities | (20.9) | (19.7) | (15.8)
Unfunded defined benefit plans [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | (135.2) | (170.1) | (173.4)
Present value of liabilities | (135.2) | (170.1) | (173.4)
Unfunded defined benefit plans [member] | North America [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | (58.0) | (64.1) | (67.8)
Present value of liabilities | (58.0) | (64.1) | (67.8)
Unfunded defined benefit plans [member] | Western Continental Europe [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | (46.1) | (68.8) | (69.8)
Present value of liabilities | (46.1) | (68.8) | (69.8)
Unfunded defined benefit plans [member] | Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of defined benefit plans [line items] |  |  |
Surplus/ (deficit) | (31.1) | (37.2) | (35.8)
Present value of liabilities | £ (31.1) | £ (37.2) | £ (35.8)

X
- Definition The present value, without deducting any plan assets, of expected future payments required to settle the obligation resulting from employee service in the current and prior periods. [Refer: Plan assets, at fair value] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 57 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_57_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DefinedBenefitObligationAtPresentValue
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The fair value of any plan assets, less the present value of the defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Plan assets [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 57 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_57_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SurplusDeficitInPlan
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=country_GB
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=srt_NorthAmericaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=wpp_WesternContinentalEuropeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=wpp_AsiaPacificLatinAmericaAfricaAndMiddleEastAndCentralAndEasternEuropeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DefinedBenefitPlansAxis=wpp_FundedDefinedBenefitPlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DefinedBenefitPlansAxis=wpp_UnfundedDefinedBenefitPlansMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |