Operating assets and liabilities - Inventories - Narrative (Details)	Dec. 31, 2021
Subclassifications of assets, liabilities and equities [abstract]
Indirect production costs (as a percent of net inventory value)	46.00%

Current Inventories, Indirect Production Costs, Percent Of Inventory Value, Approximate

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	nvo_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant