Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total		Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net Currency Translation Adjustments	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net Cash Flow Hedges	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net Post Employment Benefits	Total Nielsen Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 4,293		$ 32	$ 4,825	$ 456	$ (856)	$ (1)	$ (354)	$ 4,102	$ 191
Net income/(loss)	440				429				429	11
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	248	[1]				246			246	2
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	11	[2]					11		11
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	14	[3]						14	14
Capital contribution by a non-controlling partner	6									6
(Divestiture)/acquisition of an interest in a consolidated subsidiary	(12)			(12)					(12)
Employee stock purchase plan	6			6					6
Dividends to shareholders	(486)				(474)				(474)	(12)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	21			21					21
Repurchase of common stock	(140)			(140)					(140)
Share-based compensation expense	42			42					42
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	4,443		32	4,742	411	(610)	10	(340)	4,245	198
Net income/(loss)	(700)				(712)				(712)	12
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(170)	[1]				(169)			(169)	(1)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	1	[2]					1		1
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	(2)	[3]						(2)	(2)
Employee stock purchase plan	5			5					5
Dividends to shareholders	(507)				(494)				(494)	(13)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	15			15					15
Repurchase of common stock	(70)			(70)					(70)
Share-based compensation expense	28			28					28
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	3,043		32	4,720	(795)	(779)	11	(342)	2,847	196
Net income/(loss)	(403)				(415)				(415)	12
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	5	[1]				3			3	2
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	(30)	[2]					(30)		(30)
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	132	[3]						132	132
Capital contribution by a non-controlling partner	2									2
(Divestiture)/acquisition of an interest in a consolidated subsidiary	(2)									(2)
Employee stock purchase plan	4			4					4
Dividends to shareholders	(412)			(395)					(395)	(17)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	(8)			(8)					(8)
Share-based compensation expense	57			57					57
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 2,388		$ 32	$ 4,378	$ (1,210)	$ (776)	$ (19)	$ (210)	$ 2,195	$ 193

[1] Net of tax of $(4) million, $(6) million and $23 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively.

[2] Net of tax of $11 million, $(1) million and $(7) million for the year ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively.

[3] Net of tax of $(8), zero and $(2) million for the year ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively.