Note 2 - Variable Interest Entities - Consolidated VIEs' Financial Performance (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Revenues	$ 9,181,000	$ 7,216,000	$ 25,317,000	$ 21,813,000
Cost of revenues	(9,185,000)	(7,267,000)	(25,746,000)	(21,811,000)
Total operating expenses	1,602,000	1,780,000	3,825,000	6,097,000
Net loss attributable to ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. (numerator for basic and diluted loss per share)	(1,520,000)	(2,840,000)	(4,066,000)	(5,271,000)
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Revenues	9,157,000	6,967,000	25,098,000	20,829,000
Cost of revenues	(8,975,000)	(7,267,000)	(25,023,000)	(21,811,000)
Total operating expenses	(436,000)	(691,000)	(1,179,000)	(1,539,000)
Net loss attributable to ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. (numerator for basic and diluted loss per share)	$ (259)	$ (998)	$ (1,326)	$ (2,551)