Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 882	$ 836	$ 2,606	$ 2,489
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	307	290	876	916
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below	218	167	642	542
Depreciation and amortization	129	140	382	423
Impairment of other long-lived assets		8		49
Restructuring charges	6	9	12	41
Operating income	222	222	694	518
Interest expense, net	(68)	(82)	(217)	(247)
Foreign currency exchange transaction (losses)/gains, net	(1)	9	(5)	10
Other expense, net	(1)	(9)	(27)	(15)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	152	140	445	266
Provision for income taxes	(33)	(38)	(129)	(72)
Equity in net income of affiliates	1		1
Net income from continuing operations	120	102	317	194
Net (loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(17)	(92)	440	(223)
Net income/(loss)	103	10	757	(29)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3	3	8	12
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 100	$ 7	$ 749	$ (41)
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, basic
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 0.33	$ 0.28	$ 0.86	$ 0.51
Net (loss)/income from discontinued operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders	(0.05)	(0.26)	1.23	(0.63)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	0.28	0.02	2.09	(0.11)
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, diluted
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders	0.32	0.28	0.86	0.51
Net (loss)/income from discontinued operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders	(0.05)	(0.26)	1.22	(0.63)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders	$ 0.28	$ 0.02	$ 2.08	$ (0.11)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic	358,879,518	356,913,312	358,489,287	356,661,167
Dilutive shares of common stock	1,648,595	1,529,996	1,896,697	1,162,553
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted	360,528,113	358,443,308	360,385,984	357,823,720
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.18	$ 0.18