Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	[1]	$ 6,572	$ 6,309	$ 6,172
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		2,765	2,607	2,539
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		1,862	1,851	1,915
Depreciation and amortization		640	603	574
Restructuring charges		80	105	51
Operating income		1,225	1,143	1,093
Interest income		4	4	4
Interest expense		(374)	(333)	(311)
Foreign currency exchange transaction losses, net		(10)	(6)	(31)
Other (expense)/income, net		(17)	8	206
Income before income taxes and equity in net loss of affiliates		828	816	961
Provision for income taxes		(388)	(309)	(383)
Equity in net loss of affiliates				(3)
Net income		440	507	575
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		11	5	5
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$ 429	$ 502	$ 570
Net income per share of common stock, basic
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$ 1.20	$ 1.40	$ 1.55
Net income per share of common stock, diluted
Net income attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$ 1.20	$ 1.39	$ 1.54
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic		356,714,940	358,830,080	366,996,788
Dilutive shares of common stock		1,337,493	3,337,049	3,961,016
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted		358,052,433	362,167,129	370,957,804
Dividends declared per common share		$ 1.33	$ 1.21	$ 1.09

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