Note 23 - Loss Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Net loss attributable to ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. (numerator for basic and diluted loss per share)	$ (5,216)	$ (1,261)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – Basic and diluted (in shares)	21,602,107	17,130,335
Loss per share -Basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.07)

Amount, after deduction of tax, noncontrolling interests, dividends on preferred stock and participating securities, and addition from assumption of issuance of common shares for dilutive potential common shares; of income (loss) available to common shareholders.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 60B
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121326447&loc=SL5780133-109256

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 16
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121326447&loc=d3e1505-109256

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