Name:	ifrs-full_DisclosureOfTransactionsBetweenRelatedPartiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=24&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_21_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

Name:	ifrs-full_RevenueFromRenderingOfServicesRelatedPartyTransactions
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

Distribution, Related Party Transaction

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_DistributionRelatedPartyTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	nvo_
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
Period Type:	duration

Dividends Received By Entity, Related Party Transactions

No definition available.

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

Liability For Capital Commitment, Related Party Transactions

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_LiabilityForCapitalCommitmentRelatedPartyTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	nvo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Liability For Capital Commitment, Related Party Transactions, Payment

No definition available.

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

Purchase Of Shares, Related Party Transactions

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_PurchaseOfSharesRelatedPartyTransactions
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_NovoHoldingsASMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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

Name:	ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis=nvo_NNITGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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

Name:	nvo_RelatedParty1Axis=nvo_NovozymesGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: