Note 20 - Loss Per Share - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Net loss attributable to ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. (numerator for basic and diluted loss per share)		$ (1,143)	$ (717)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding -Basic and diluted (in shares)	[1]	7,174,506	7,079,962
Loss per share -Basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ (0.16)	$ (0.10)

[1] Retrospectively restated for effect of the 1-for-5 reverse stock split effective on January 18, 2023, see Note 4(g).