Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 6,288	$ 5,703	$ 5,407
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	2,620	2,398	2,225
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	1,917	1,815	1,724
Depreciation and amortization	573	510	493
Restructuring charges	89	119	85
Operating income	1,089	861	880
Interest income	3	2	4
Interest expense	(300)	(309)	(390)
Foreign currency exchange transaction losses, net	(71)	(25)	(17)
Other expense, net	(100)	(9)	(118)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates	621	520	359
Provision for income taxes	(236)	(91)	(122)
Equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates	(4)	2	5
Income from continuing operations	381	431	242
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		305	30
Net income	381	736	272
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(4)	(1)
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 384	$ 740	$ 273
Net income per share of common stock, basic
Income from continuing operations	$ 1.01	$ 1.16	$ 0.67
Discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0.81	$ 0.08
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 1.01	$ 1.97	$ 0.75
Net income per share of common stock, diluted
Income from continuing operations	$ 1.00	$ 1.14	$ 0.66
Discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0.80	$ 0.08
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders	$ 1.00	$ 1.94	$ 0.75
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic	379,333,037	375,797,629	361,787,868
Dilutive shares of common stock	5,038,415	5,130,337	4,523,116
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted	384,371,452	380,927,966	366,310,984
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.95	$ 0.72	$ 0