Changes in and Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) by Component - Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), Net of Tax by Component (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance	$ 3,660	$ 3,210	$ 3,496	$ 2,243
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	2	8	11	397
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income	(35)	(12)	(64)	343
Balance	3,720	3,286	3,720	3,286
Currency Translation Adjustments
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance	(710)	(621)	(647)	(821)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income before Reclassifications			(105)	(53)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss				233
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income			(105)	180
Net current period other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			(4)	(2)
Net current period other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Nielsen shareholders			(101)	182
Balance	(748)	(639)	(748)	(639)
Cash Flow Hedges
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance			(18)	(39)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income before Reclassifications			16	(1)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			7	15
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income			23	14
Net current period other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Nielsen shareholders			23	14
Balance	5	(25)	5	(25)
Post-Employment Benefits
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance	(56)	(99)	(73)	(245)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income before Reclassifications			14
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			4	149
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income			18	149
Net current period other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Nielsen shareholders			18	149
Balance	(55)	(96)	(55)	(96)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance			(738)	(1,105)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income before Reclassifications			(75)	(54)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			11	397
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income			(64)	343
Net current period other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			(4)	(2)
Net current period other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Nielsen shareholders			(60)	345
Balance	$ (798)	$ (760)	$ (798)	$ (760)