Right of Use Assets and Lease Liabilities - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Cash outflow for leases	$ 51
Repayment of liabilities	42
Lease finance costs paid included in the statement of cash flows	$ 9
Weighted average incremental borrowing rate at date of initial application		4.72%

Interest Paid On Leases Classified As Financing Activities

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	au_
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Leases [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	au_LeasesAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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- Definition

The cash outflow for leases.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Note Effective 2019-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 16
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 53
-Subparagraph g
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_53_g&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for payment of lease liabilities, classified as financing activities. [Refer: Lease liabilities]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Note Effective 2019-01-01
-Name IAS
-Number 7
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_17_e&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average lessee's incremental borrowing rate applied to lease liabilities recognised in the statement of financial position at the date of initial application of IFRS 16. The incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest that a lessee would have to pay to borrow over a similar term, and with a similar security, the funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Note Effective 2019-01-01
-Name IFRS
-Number 16
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph C12
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_C12_a&doctype=Appendix&seq=3
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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