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Post-employment benefits for associates - Breakdown of DBO for pension plans by geography and type of member (Details) - Pension plans [member] - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
--- | --- | ---
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | $ (817) | $ (723)
Prepaid benefit costs and limitation on recognition of fund surplus | (41) | (19)
Fair value of plan assets | 519 | 451
Funded status | (298) | (272)
Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (505) | (440)
Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (173) | (151)
Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (139) | (132)
Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (112) | (99)
Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (227) | (192)
Country of domicile [member] | SWITZERLAND |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (289) | (244)
Prepaid benefit costs and limitation on recognition of fund surplus | 0 | 0
Fair value of plan assets | 154 | 132
Funded status | (135) | (112)
Country of domicile [member] | SWITZERLAND | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (251) | (216)
Country of domicile [member] | SWITZERLAND | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (12) | (12)
Country of domicile [member] | SWITZERLAND | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (26) | (16)
Country of domicile [member] | SWITZERLAND | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (51) | (47)
Country of domicile [member] | SWITZERLAND | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (84) | (65)
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED STATES |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (138) | (127)
Prepaid benefit costs and limitation on recognition of fund surplus | 0 | 0
Fair value of plan assets | 94 | 80
Funded status | (44) | (47)
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED STATES | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (53) | (40)
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED STATES | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (50) | (46)
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED STATES | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (35) | (41)
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED STATES | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (30) | (29)
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED STATES | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (14) | (18)
Foreign countries [member] | GERMANY |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (134) | (109)
Prepaid benefit costs and limitation on recognition of fund surplus | 0 | 0
Fair value of plan assets | 19 | 17
Funded status | (115) | (92)
Foreign countries [member] | GERMANY | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (76) | (61)
Foreign countries [member] | GERMANY | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (32) | (27)
Foreign countries [member] | GERMANY | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (26) | (21)
Foreign countries [member] | GERMANY | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | 0 | 0
Foreign countries [member] | GERMANY | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (115) | (92)
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED KINGDOM |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (104) | (98)
Prepaid benefit costs and limitation on recognition of fund surplus | (23) | (11)
Fair value of plan assets | 127 | 109
Funded status | 23 | 11
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED KINGDOM | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | 0 | 0
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED KINGDOM | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (62) | (54)
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED KINGDOM | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (42) | (44)
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED KINGDOM | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | 0 | 0
Foreign countries [member] | UNITED KINGDOM | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | 0 | 0
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (152) | (145)
Prepaid benefit costs and limitation on recognition of fund surplus | (18) | (8)
Fair value of plan assets | 125 | 113
Funded status | (27) | (32)
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Active [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (125) | (123)
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Deferred pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (17) | (12)
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Pensioners [Member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (10) | (10)
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Unfunded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | (31) | (23)
Foreign countries [member] | Rest of the world | Unfunded portion of funded plans [member] |  |
Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] |  |
Defined benefit obligation, at present value | $ (14) | $ (17)

X
- Definition Defined Benefit Obligation, Prepaid Benefit Costs And Limitation On Recognition Of Fund Surplus + References No definition available. + Details
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- 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 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 57 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_57_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
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- Definition The fair value of defined benefit plan assets. Plan assets comprise assets held by a long-term employee benefit fund and qualifying insurance policies. [Refer: At fair value [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 57 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_57_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
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- 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 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 57 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_57_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
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