Condensed 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 Interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 2,243	$ 32	$ 4,340	$ (1,216)	$ (821)	$ (39)	$ (245)	$ 2,051	$ 192
Net income	757			749				749	8
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(53)				(51)			(51)	(2)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	14					14		14
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax	8						8	8
Other Comprehensive Income gain/(loss) on disposition, net of tax	374				233		141	374
Dividends to shareholders	(74)		(65)					(65)	(9)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	(5)		(5)					(5)
Share-based compensation expense	26		26					26
Other	(4)		(7)					(7)	3
Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	3,286	32	4,289	(467)	(639)	(25)	(96)	3,094	192
Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	3,210	32	4,301	(567)	(621)	(30)	(99)	3,016	194
Net income	103			100				100	3
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(20)				(18)			(18)	(2)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	5					5		5
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax	3						3	3
Dividends to shareholders	(25)		(22)					(22)	(3)
Common stock activity from share-based compensation plans	(1)		(1)					(1)
Share-based compensation expense	10		10					10
Other	1		1					1
Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	3,286	32	4,289	(467)	(639)	(25)	(96)	3,094	192
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	3,496	32	4,273	(253)	(647)	(18)	(73)	3,314	182
Net income	338			324				324	14
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(94)				(101)		11	(90)	(4)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	23					23		23
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax	7						7	7
Capital contribution by non-controlling partner	1								1
Dividends to shareholders	(49)		(65)					(65)	(8)
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based payment arrangements	(6)		(7)					(7)
Share-based compensation expense	28		28					28
Employee stock purchase plan	1		1					1
Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	3,720	32	4,230	71	(748)	5	(55)	3,535	185
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	3,660	32	4,243	(37)	(710)	2	(56)	3,474	186
Net income	110			108				108	2
Currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(39)				(38)			(38)	(1)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	3					3		3
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax	1						1	1
Dividends to shareholders	(24)		(22)					(22)	(2)
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based payment arrangements	(1)		(1)					(1)
Share-based compensation expense	10		10					10
Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 3,720	$ 32	$ 4,230	$ 71	$ (748)	$ 5	$ (55)	$ 3,535	$ 185