Equity method investments - summarized financial information of equity method investees (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2022	May 31, 2022	Feb. 28, 2022	Nov. 30, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021	May 31, 2021	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2022	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Current assets	$ 16,902				$ 15,814				$ 16,902	$ 15,814
Non-current assets	73,222				65,471				73,222	65,471
Current liabilities	22,583				22,054				22,583	22,054
Non-current liabilities	37,134				35,091				37,134	35,091
Shareholders' equity	29,366				23,822				29,366	23,822	$ 21,136	$ 24,152
Non-controlling interests	4,091				402				4,091	402
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	32,449	$ 32,597	$ 33,756	$ 33,901	34,262	$ 34,030	$ 32,779	$ 31,438	132,703	132,509	121,982
Gross profit	6,410	$ 6,572	$ 7,708	$ 7,574	7,503	$ 7,153	$ 6,781	$ 6,630	28,265	28,067	26,078
Net earnings (loss)									4,065	2,512	424
Share of earnings (loss) from equity method investments									468	(512)	372
Equity Method Investment
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Current assets	50,985				49,538				50,985	49,538
Non-current assets	26,497				27,442				26,497	27,442
Current liabilities	52,083				48,766				52,083	48,766
Non-current liabilities	19,712				22,046				19,712	22,046
Shareholders' equity	5,687				6,168				5,687	6,168
Non-controlling interests	$ 564				$ 646				564	646
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales									268,189	232,719	208,625
Gross profit									13,248	10,889	8,707
Net earnings (loss)									$ 1,988	$ (3,475)	$ 1,624