Post-Employment Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair value of plan assets
Beginning of period	$ 4,174	$ 4,174	$ 4,173
End of period			4,174	$ 4,173
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets
Long-term liabilities			$ (1,949)	(2,220)
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used in Determining Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Ultimate per capita trend rate for health care costs from 2064 and thereafter			4.50%
Ultimate per capita trend rate for health care costs from 2064 and thereafter (as a percent)			4.50%
Effect of 1% change in assumed health care cost trend rates
Effect of one percentage point increase, Service cost and interest cost			$ 12
Effect of one percentage point decrease, Service cost and interest cost			(9)
Effect of one percentage point increase, Projected benefit obligation			116
Effect of one percentage point decrease, Projected benefit obligation			$ (90)
Forecast
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Reduction of defined benefit plan net periodic benefit cost		41
Pre Sixty Five Years Of Age
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used in Determining Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care obligation benefits assumed in the current year (as a percent)			7.30%
Annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care cost benefits assumed in the current year (as a percent)			7.50%
Post Sixty Five Years Of Age
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used in Determining Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care obligation benefits assumed in the current year (as a percent)			8.30%
Annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care cost benefits assumed in the current year (as a percent)			7.30%
AbbVie sponsored plans
Post-Employment Benefits
Accumulated benefit obligations			$ 4,800	5,000
Fair value of plan assets
Beginning of period	640	640	474	411
Company contribution			150	370	$ 145
End of period			640	474	411
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Company contribution			150	370	145
AbbVie sponsored plans | Pension Plans Defined Benefit
Post-Employment Benefits
Defined benefit pension and other post-employment plans assets recognized			214	210
Projected benefit obligations
Beginning of period	5,387	5,387	5,681	4,484
Employee contributions			2	1
Plan amendments				1
Actuarial (gain) loss			(467)	1,108
Benefits paid			(158)	(163)
Other, primarily foreign currency translation loss			(117)	(140)
End of period			5,387	5,681	4,484
Fair value of plan assets
Beginning of period	4,174	4,174	4,173	3,666
Actual (loss) return on plan assets			(25)	282
Company contribution			217	430
Employee contributions			2	1
Benefits paid			(158)	(163)
Other, primarily foreign currency translation adjustments			(35)	(43)
End of period			4,174	4,173	3,666
Funded status at the end of the period			(1,213)	(1,508)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets
Other assets			214	210
Current liabilities			(24)	(26)
Long-term liabilities			(1,403)	(1,692)
Net liability at the end of the period			1,213	1,508
Actuarial losses, net			1,939	2,216
Prior service cost			16	19
AOCI at the end of the period			1,955	2,235
Pretax losses included in OCI
Actuarial (gain) loss			(117)	1,127	(715)
Prior service cost				1	15
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial losses			(127)	(68)	(114)
Foreign exchange loss			(37)	(41)	2
Total pretax (gain) loss recognized in OCI			(281)	1,019	(812)
Expected net periodic benefit cost			87
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost			227	173	184
Interest cost			219	217	196
Expected return on plan assets			(325)	(302)	(259)
Amortization of actuarial losses (gain) and prior service costs			127	68	114
Net periodic benefit cost			248	156	$ 235
Company contribution			$ 217	$ 430
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used in Determining Benefit Obligations at the Measurement Date
Discount rate (as a percent)			4.40%	3.90%
Rate of compensation increases (as a percent)			4.40%	4.40%
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used in Determining Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Discount rate (as a percent)			3.90%	4.90%	4.30%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets (as a percent)			7.80%	7.90%	8.20%
Expected rate of change in compensation (as a percent)			4.40%	5.00%	5.00%
AbbVie sponsored plans | Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Defined Benefit
Projected benefit obligations
Beginning of period	557	557	$ 538	$ 403
Plan amendments				(13)
Actuarial (gain) loss			(17)	111
Benefits paid			(11)	(8)
Other, primarily foreign currency translation loss			(1)	1
End of period			557	538	$ 403
Fair value of plan assets
Company contribution			11	8
Benefits paid			(11)	(8)
Funded status at the end of the period			(557)	(538)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets
Current liabilities			(11)	(10)
Long-term liabilities			(546)	(528)
Net liability at the end of the period			557	538
Actuarial losses, net			154	181
Prior service cost			(45)	(53)
AOCI at the end of the period			109	128
Pretax losses included in OCI
Actuarial (gain) loss			(17)	111	(42)
Prior service cost				(13)	(53)
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial losses			(2)	3
Total pretax (gain) loss recognized in OCI			(19)	101	(95)
Expected net periodic benefit cost			1
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost			25	22	23
Interest cost			23	22	19
Amortization of actuarial losses (gain) and prior service costs			2	(2)	(1)
Net periodic benefit cost			50	42	$ 41
Company contribution			$ 11	$ 8
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used in Determining Benefit Obligations at the Measurement Date
Discount rate (as a percent)			4.90%	4.50%
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used in Determining Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Discount rate (as a percent)			4.50%	5.30%	4.50%
AbbVie sponsored plans | Foreign Pension Plans Defined Benefit
Fair value of plan assets
Beginning of period	1,500	1,500	$ 1,400
End of period			1,500	$ 1,400
AbbVie sponsored plans | Defined Benefit Plan In Which Accumulated Benefit Obligation Exceeded Plan Assets
Post-Employment Benefits
Accumulated benefit obligations			3,100
Projected benefit obligations
Beginning of period	3,600	3,600
End of period			3,600
Fair value of plan assets
Beginning of period	2,200	$ 2,200
End of period			$ 2,200
Subsequent Event | AbbVie sponsored plans
Fair value of plan assets
Company contribution	150
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Company contribution	$ 150