Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	[1]	$ 6,515	$ 6,572	$ 6,309
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		2,805	2,765	2,607
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		1,958	1,873	1,864
Depreciation and amortization		675	640	603
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		1,413
Restructuring charges		139	80	105
Operating income/(loss)		(475)	1,214	1,130
Interest income		8	4	4
Interest expense		(394)	(374)	(333)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net		(16)	(10)	(6)
Other income/(expense), net		(5)	(6)	21
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		(882)	828	816
Benefit/(provision) for income taxes		182	(388)	(309)
Net income/(loss)		(700)	440	507
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		12	11	5
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders		$ (712)	$ 429	$ 502
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, basic
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders		$ (2.00)	$ 1.20	$ 1.40
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, diluted
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders		$ (2.00)	$ 1.20	$ 1.39
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic		355,601,564	356,714,940	358,830,080
Dilutive shares of common stock			1,337,493	3,337,049
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted		355,601,564	358,052,433	362,167,129
Dividends declared per common share		$ 1.39	$ 1.33	$ 1.21

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