EARNINGS PER SHARE (Detail) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2016
Nov. 30, 2015
Basic Earnings per share    
Net income attributable to Accenture plc $ 1,004,476 $ 818,899
Basic weighted average Class A ordinary shares 621,569,764 626,463,124
Basic earnings per share $ 1.62 $ 1.31
Diluted Earnings per share    
Net income attributable to Accenture plc $ 1,004,476 $ 818,899
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in Accenture Holdings plc and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. (1) [1] 46,452 39,576
Net income for diluted earnings per share calculation $ 1,050,928 $ 858,475
Basic weighted average Class A ordinary shares 621,569,764 626,463,124
Class A ordinary shares issuable upon redemption/exchange of noncontrolling interests (1) [1] 28,718,885 30,251,110
Diluted effect of employee compensation related to Class A ordinary shares 13,224,914 14,367,590
Diluted effect of share purchase plans related to Class A ordinary shares 239,267 218,920
Diluted weighted average Class A ordinary shares 663,752,830 671,300,744
Diluted earnings per share $ 1.58 $ 1.28
[1] Diluted earnings per share assumes the redemption of all Accenture Holdings plc ordinary shares owned by holders of noncontrolling interests and the exchange of all Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares for Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis. The income effect does not take into account “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests — other,” since those shares are not redeemable or exchangeable for Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares.