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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
ProspectusDate rr_ProspectusDate Aug. 29, 2011
EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND INC (Prospectus Summary) | EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND INC
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return, Heading rr_RiskReturnHeading EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND INC
Investment Objective, Heading rr_ObjectiveHeading INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
investment Objective, Primary rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock 
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital growth.
Expense, Heading rr_ExpenseHeading FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
Expense, Narrative rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock 
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees, Caption rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses, Caption rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover, Heading rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock 
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate
may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund
shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in
annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance.
During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was
40.66% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 40.66%
Expenses, Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees The total annual fund operating expenses included in the fee table do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets included in the Financial Highlights section. The Financial Highlights reflect only the operating expenses of the Fund (management fees and other expenses, as identified in the Subtotal above) and do not include fees and expenses related to the Acquired Funds.
Expense Example, Heading rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example, Narrative rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock 
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.


The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods
indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The
example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example, By Year, Caption rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, Closing rr_ExpenseExampleClosingTextBlock 
Although this Example assumes an investment of $10,000, your initial investment
in the Fund must be at least $100,000.
Investment Strategy, Heading rr_StrategyHeading PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Investment Strategy, Narrative rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock 
The Fund invests primarily in common stock and other equity securities of
issuers in developing countries. Developing countries are also known as
"emerging markets." In determining whether an issuer is in a developing country,
the Fund will consider whether the country is generally considered to be a
developing country by the international financial community, where the issuer is
domiciled, the location of the issuer's principal place of business and/or
whether the issuer has substantial assets, or derives significant revenues or
profits from developing countries. Equity securities are securities that exhibit
ownership characteristics, including common and preferred stock, securities
convertible into common and preferred stock and depository receipts representing
ownership in common and preferred stock. These securities are discussed more
fully in the section entitled "Investment Objective, Strategies and Risks."

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio managers in managing
the Fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the Fund is divided
into segments managed by individual managers who decide how their respective
segments will be invested.

The Fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the Fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment
philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively valued
companies that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment
opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to
accomplish this is through fundamental analysis, which may include meeting with
company executives and employees, suppliers, customers and competitors.
Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer
represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
Risk, Heading rr_RiskHeading PRINCIPAL RISKS
Risk, Narrative rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock 
You may lose money by investing in the Fund. The likelihood of loss may be
greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.

Your investment in the Fund is subject to risks, including the possibility that
the value of the Fund's portfolio holdings will fluctuate in response to events
specific to the companies in which the Fund invests.

Market risks -- The prices of common stocks and other securities held by the Fund
may decline in response to certain events taking place around the world,
including those directly involving issuers whose securities are owned by the
Fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; social,
economic and political instability; government activities and restrictions,
including repatriation restrictions; and currency and price fluctuations and
periods of illiquidity.

Risks of investing outside of the U.S. -- Investments in securities issued by
entities based outside the United States may also be affected by currency
controls; different accounting, auditing, financial reporting, disclosure, and
regulatory and legal standards and practices; expropriation; changes in tax
policy; greater market volatility; different securities market structures;
higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as
delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment
of dividends. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in
developing countries.

Risk of investing in developing countries -- Developing countries may have less
developed legal and accounting systems. The governments of these countries may
be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls and/or changes in
tax policy that could adversely affect security valuations. In addition, there
is greater potential that securities purchased by the Fund in developing markets
may be fraudulent or counterfeit due to differences in the level of regulation,
disclosure requirements and recordkeeping practices in those markets. There may
be less certainty with respect to portfolio security valuations for developing
market securities, which may lead to additional challenges and risks in
calculating the Fund's net asset value. Securities markets in these countries
are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. As a
result, securities in these countries may be more volatile and less liquid than
securities issued in countries with more developed economies or markets.

Your investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
governmental agency, entity or person.
Risk, Lose Money rr_RiskLoseMoney You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk, Not Insured Depository Institution rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution Your investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person.
Bar Chart and Performance Table, Heading rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading INVESTMENT RESULTS
Performance, Narrative rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock 
The bar chart on page 4 shows how the Fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the table on page 4 shows how the Fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index
(stacked), a broad measure of market performance. This information provides some
indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. Past results (before and after
taxes) are not predictive of future results.
Performance, Information Illustrates Variability of Returns rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart on page 4 shows how the Fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the table on page 4 shows how the Fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (stacked), a broad measure of market performance.
Performance, Past Does Not Indicate Future rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Past results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future results.
Bar Chart, Heading rr_BarChartHeading CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS
Bar Chart, Narrative rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock 
The bar chart on page 4 shows how the Fund's investment results have varied
from year to year, and the table on page 4 shows how the Fund's average annual
total returns for various periods compare with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index
(stacked), a broad measure of market performance.
Bar Chart, Closing rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock 
Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this time period were:

Highest: 33.33% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)
Lowest:  -25.28% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

The Fund's total return for the six months ended June 30, 2011, was 0.61%.
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes
Performance Table, Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns applicable to U.S. taxable investors are calculated using the highest historical individual federal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table, Closing rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock 
After-tax returns applicable to U.S. taxable investors are calculated using the
highest historical individual federal income tax rates and do not reflect the
impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on specific tax
situations and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Average Annual Returns, Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (For the periods ended December 31, 2010)
EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND INC (Prospectus Summary) | EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND INC | SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel The Fund's total return for the six months ended
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Jun. 30, 2011
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 0.61%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Highest:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 33.33%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Lowest:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (25.28%)
EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND INC | MSCI Emerging Markets Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel MSCI Emerging Markets Index (stacked) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.90%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 13.24%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 16.13%
EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND INC | SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fee rr_RedemptionFee none
Exchange Fee rr_ExchangeFee none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.61%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.07%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.74% [1]
Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 76
Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 237
Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 411
Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 918
Annual Return 2001 rr_AnnualReturn2001 (3.43%)
Annual Return 2002 rr_AnnualReturn2002 (9.93%)
Annual Return 2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 51.51%
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 20.74%
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 38.36%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 36.53%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 38.57%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (49.49%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 77.82%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 16.79%
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.79%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.69%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 15.89%
EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND INC | SHARES OF COMMON STOCK | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.62%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 11.40%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 13.62%
EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND INC | SHARES OF COMMON STOCK | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 11.44%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 11.89%
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 13.64%
[1] The total annual fund operating expenses included in the fee table do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets included in the Financial Highlights section. The Financial Highlights reflect only the operating expenses of the Fund (management fees and other expenses, as identified in the Subtotal above) and do not include fees and expenses related to the Acquired Funds.