Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	[1]	$ 6,498	$ 6,515	$ 6,572
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		2,822	2,805	2,765
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		1,929	1,958	1,873
Depreciation and amortization		756	675	640
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		1,004	1,413
Restructuring charges		80	139	80
Operating income/(loss)		(93)	(475)	1,214
Interest income		6	8	4
Interest expense		(397)	(394)	(374)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net		(10)	(16)	(10)
Other income/(expense), net		(169)	(5)	(6)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		(663)	(882)	828
Benefit/(provision) for income taxes		260	182	(388)
Net income/(loss)		(403)	(700)	440
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		12	12	11
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders		$ (415)	$ (712)	$ 429
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, basic
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders		$ (1.17)	$ (2.00)	$ 1.20
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, diluted
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders		$ (1.17)	$ (2.00)	$ 1.20
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic		355,731,862	355,601,564	356,714,940
Dilutive shares of common stock				1,337,493
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted		355,731,862	355,601,564	358,052,433
Dividends declared per common share		$ 1.11	$ 1.39	$ 1.33

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