Segment Information (Reconciliation to Consolidated Financial Statements) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015	[2],[6]	Jun. 30, 2015	[4],[5],[6]	Mar. 31, 2015	[2],[6],[7],[8]	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	[9]	Jun. 30, 2014	[9],[13],[14],[15]	Mar. 31, 2014	[9]	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment operating earnings																		$ 4,243	$ 5,032		$ 4,906
Segment significant benefits / (charges)																		(38)	434		(486)
Non-operating pension and other postretirement employee benefit costs																		(374)	(128)		(533)
Net exchange gains (losses), including affiliates	[1]																	30	196		(101)
Corporate expenses																		(928)	(844)		(772)
Interest expense																		(342)	(377)		(448)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		$ (421)	[2],[3],[4],[5]	$ 227		$ 1,234		$ 1,551		$ 824	[9],[10],[11],[12],[13]	$ 634		$ 1,245		$ 1,610		2,591	4,313		2,566
Total segment net assets		22,156								23,018								22,156	23,018		23,084
Corporate assets	[16]	11,163								12,889								11,163	12,889		13,884
Liabilities included in segment net assets		7,847								8,356								7,847	8,356		9,462
Assets of discontinued operations		0								6,227								0	6,227
Total assets		41,166								50,490								41,166	50,490		52,142
Divestitures [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets of discontinued operations		$ 0								$ 6,227	[17]							$ 0	$ 6,227	[17]	$ 5,712	[17]

[1] The $30 net exchange gain for the year ended December 31, 2015, includes $(58) and $(40) exchange loss associated with the devaluation of the Ukrainian hryvnia and the Argentina peso, respectively. The $196 net exchange gain for the year ended December 31, 2014, includes a $(58), $(46), and $(14) exchange losses, associated with the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar, Ukranian hryvnia, and Argentinian peso, respectively. The $(101) net exchange loss for the year ended December 31, 2013, includes a $(33) exchange loss, associated with the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar.

[2] First and third quarter 2015 included net insurance recoveries of $35 and $147 , respectively, recorded in other operating charges in the Agriculture segment, for recovery of costs for customer claims related to the use of the Imprelis® herbicide. Fourth quarter 2015 included a benefit of $130 in other operating charges for reduction in accrual for customer claims related to the use of the Agriculture segment’s Imprelis® herbicide. See Note 16 for additional information.

[3] Fourth quarter 2015 included charges of $(10) recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses related to transaction costs associated with the planned merger with the Dow Chemical Company announced on December 11, 2015. See Note 2 for additional information.

[4] Second and fourth quarter 2015 included a $(2) and $23 restructuring (charge) benefit associated with the 2014 restructuring program, recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net. Fourth quarter 2015 included a $(798) restructuring charge consisting of $(793) recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net and $(5) recorded in other income, net associated with structural actions across all businesses and staff functions globally to operate more efficiently by further consolidating businesses and aligning staff functions more closely with them. See Note 4 for additional information.

[5] Second and fourth quarter 2015 included gains of $112 and $33, respectively, net of legal expenses, recorded in other income, net related to the company's settlement of a legal claim. This matter relates to the Safety & Protection segment.

[6] First and third quarter 2015 included charges of $(12) and $(9), respectively, recorded in other operating charges associated with transaction costs related to the separation of the Performance Chemicals segment. Second quarter 2015 included charges of $(5) recorded in other operating charges and $(20) recorded in interest expense. See Note 3 for additional information.

[7] First quarter 2015 included a $(37) pre-tax impairment charge recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net for a cost basis investment. See Note 4 for additional information.

[8] First quarter 2015 included a $(40) pre-tax charge within other income, net associated with the re-measurement of the Ukraine hyrvnia net monetary assets.

[9] First, second, third and fourth quarter 2014 included charges of $(3), $(4), $(10), and $(16), respectively, recorded in other operating charges associated with transaction costs related to the separation of the Performance Chemicals segment. See Note 3 for additional information.

[10] Fourth quarter 2014 included a $70 adjustment to lower performance-based compensation expense.

[11] Fourth quarter 2014 included a gain of $240 recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of the copper fungicide and land management businesses, both within the Agriculture segment.

[12] Fourth quarter 2014 included income of $210 for insurance recoveries, recorded within other operating charges, associated with the recovery of costs for customer claims related to the use of Imprelis®. See Note 16 for additional information.

[13] Second and Fourth quarter 2014 included a $(244) and $(297) restructuring charge, respectively, as a result of the company's plan to reduce residual costs associated with the separation of the Performance Chemicals segment and to improve productivity across all businesses and functions. The second quarter 2014 charge is recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net. The fourth quarter 2014 restructuring charge of $(297) consists of $(232) recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net, and $(65) recorded in other income, net. See Note 4 for additional information.

[14] Second quarter 2014 included a $(58) pre-tax charge within other income, net associated with the re-measurement of Venezuelan Bolivar net monetary assets.

[15] Second quarter 2014 included a gain of $391 recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of Glass Laminating Solutions/Vinyls. See Note 3 for additional information.

[16] Pension assets are included in corporate assets.

[17] See Note 1 for additional information on the presentation of Performance Chemicals which met the criteria for discontinued operations