XML 178 R95.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Interest expense and other financial income and expense (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Other financial income and expense [abstract] |  |  |
Interest income | $ 91 | $ 245 | $ 292
Dividend income | 18 | 12 | 1
Other financial expense | (52) | (52) | (39)
Currency result, net | (135) | (160) | (68)
Total other financial income and expense from continuing operations | $ (78) | $ 45 | $ 186

X
- Definition The amount of exchange differences recognised in profit or loss that arise from foreign currency transactions, excluding those arising on financial instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss in accordance with IFRS 9. [Refer: At fair value [member]; Financial instruments, class [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Section A Statement of cash flows for an entity other than a financial institution -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=7&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&doctype=Illustrative%20Examples&dita_xref=IAS07_IE_A_TI -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 21 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 52 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=21&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_52_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_GainsLossesOnExchangeDifferencesOnTranslationRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of finance costs that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note. [Refer: Finance costs] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 112 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_OtherFinanceCost
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of finance income or cost that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note. [Refer: Finance income (cost)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 85 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_85&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_OtherFinanceIncomeCost
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of dividends recognised as income. Dividends are distributions of profits to holders of equity investments in proportion to their holdings of a particular class of capital. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 112 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_RevenueFromDividends
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of income arising from interest. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 23 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=8&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_23_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=8&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_28_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph B13 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_B13_e&doctype=Appendix&subtype=B -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 112 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_RevenueFromInterest
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nvs_OtherFinancialIncomeAndExpenseAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | nvs_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration