XML 196 R113.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Deferred tax assets and liabilities (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | $ 6,805 | $ 2,986 |
Tax loss carryforwards expired | 14 | 9 | $ 8
One year [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 20 | 14 |
Two years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 6 | 28 |
Three years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 8 | 34 |
Four years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 23 | 62 |
Five years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 51 | 164 |
More than five years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 5,691 | 2,339 |
Not subject to expiry [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 1,006 | 345 |
Capitalized [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 3,025 | 2,338 |
Capitalized [member] | One year [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets |  | 0 |
Capitalized [member] | Two years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 5 | 0 |
Capitalized [member] | Three years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 6 | 6 |
Capitalized [member] | Four years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets |  | 46 |
Capitalized [member] | Five years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 40 | 37 |
Capitalized [member] | More than five years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 2,291 | 2,214 |
Capitalized [member] | Not subject to expiry [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 683 | 35 |
Not capitalized [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 3,780 | 648 |
Not capitalized [member] | One year [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 20 | 14 |
Not capitalized [member] | Two years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 1 | 28 |
Not capitalized [member] | Three years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 2 | 28 |
Not capitalized [member] | Four years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 23 | 16 |
Not capitalized [member] | Five years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 11 | 127 |
Not capitalized [member] | More than five years [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | 3,400 | 125 |
Tax loss carry forwards | 3,200 |  |
Not capitalized [member] | More than five years [member] | The Medicines Company |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Tax loss carry forwards | 1,600 |  |
Not capitalized [member] | Not subject to expiry [member] |  |  |
Statement [line items] |  |  |
Gross Value of tax loss carryforwards that have or have not been capitalized as deferred tax assets | $ 323 | $ 310 |

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nvs_GrossValueOfTaxLossCarryForwardsThatHaveOrHaveNotBeenCapitalizedAsDeferredTaxAssets
Namespace Prefix: | nvs_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nvs_TaxLossCarryForwards
Namespace Prefix: | nvs_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nvs_ValueOfTaxLossCarryforwardsExpired
Namespace Prefix: | nvs_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | nvs_YearOfExpiryAxis=nvs_OneYearMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | nvs_YearOfExpiryAxis=nvs_TwoYearsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | nvs_YearOfExpiryAxis=nvs_ThreeYearsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | nvs_YearOfExpiryAxis=nvs_FourYearsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | nvs_YearOfExpiryAxis=nvs_FiveYearsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | nvs_YearOfExpiryAxis=nvs_MoreThanFiveYearsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | nvs_YearOfExpiryAxis=nvs_NotSubjectToExpiryMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | nvs_BalanceSheetTreatmentAxis=nvs_CapitalizedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | nvs_BalanceSheetTreatmentAxis=nvs_NotCapitalizedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=nvs_TheMedicinesCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |