Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	[1]	$ 6,309	$ 6,172	$ 6,288
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		2,607	2,539	2,620
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		1,851	1,915	1,917
Depreciation and amortization		603	574	573
Restructuring charges		105	51	89
Operating income		1,143	1,093	1,089
Interest income		4	4	3
Interest expense		(333)	(311)	(300)
Foreign currency exchange transaction losses, net		(6)	(31)	(71)
Other income/(expense), net		8	206	(100)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net loss of affiliates		816	961	621
Provision for income taxes		(309)	(383)	(236)
Equity in net loss of affiliates			(3)	(4)
Net income		507	575	381
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		5	5	(3)
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$ 502	$ 570	$ 384
Net income per share of common stock, basic
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$ 1.40	$ 1.55	$ 1.01
Net income per share of common stock, diluted
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$ 1.39	$ 1.54	$ 1.00
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic		358,830,080	366,996,788	379,333,037
Dilutive shares of common stock		3,337,049	3,961,016	5,038,415
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted		362,167,129	370,957,804	384,371,452
Dividends declared per common share		$ 1.21	$ 1.09	$ 0.95

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