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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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The amount of revenue arising from the rendering of services in related party transactions. [Refer: Revenue; Related parties [member]]

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name IAS
-Number 24
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=24&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_21_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

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Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of services received in related party transactions. [Refer: Related parties [member]]

Name:	ifrs-full_ServicesReceivedRelatedPartyTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Dividends Paid By Entity, Related Party Transactions

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_DividendsPaidByEntityRelatedPartyTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	nvo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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Dividends Received By Entity, Related Party Transactions

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_DividendsReceivedByEntityRelatedPartyTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	nvo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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Donations Made By Entity, Related Party Transactions

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_DonationsMadeByEntityRelatedPartyTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	nvo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Sale Of Related Party Equity By Entity, Related Party Transactions

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_SaleOfRelatedPartyEquityByEntityRelatedPartyTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	nvo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	ifrs-full_CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis=ifrs-full_ParentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=nvo_NovoNordiskFoundationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=nvo_NovoHoldingsASMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	ifrs-full_CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis=ifrs-full_AssociatesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis=nvo_NNITGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	ifrs-full_CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis=ifrs-full_RelatedPartiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	nvo_RelatedParty1Axis=nvo_NovozymesGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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