Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	[1]	$ 6,172	$ 6,288	$ 5,703
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		2,539	2,620	2,398
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		1,915	1,917	1,815
Depreciation and amortization		574	573	510
Restructuring charges		51	89	119
Operating income		1,093	1,089	861
Interest income		4	3	2
Interest expense		(311)	(300)	(309)
Foreign currency exchange transaction losses, net		(31)	(71)	(25)
Other income/(expense), net		206	(100)	(9)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates		961	621	520
Provision for income taxes		(383)	(236)	(91)
Equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates		(3)	(4)	2
Income from continuing operations		575	381	431
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax				305
Net income		575	381	736
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		5	(3)	(4)
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$ 570	$ 384	$ 740
Net income per share of common stock, basic
Income from continuing operations		$ 1.55	$ 1.01	$ 1.16
Discontinued operations, net of tax				0.81
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders		1.55	1.01	1.97
Net income per share of common stock, diluted
Income from continuing operations		1.54	1.00	1.14
Discontinued operations, net of tax				0.80
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$ 1.54	$ 1.00	$ 1.94
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic		366,996,788	379,333,037	375,797,629
Dilutive shares of common stock		3,961,016	5,038,415	5,130,337
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted		370,957,804	384,371,452	380,927,966
Dividends declared per common share		$ 1.09	$ 0.95	$ 0.72

[1] Revenues are attributed to geographic areas based on the location of customers.