Summary of equity attributable to Novartis AG shareholders (Details) - USD ($)
shares in Millions, $ in Millions |
3 Months Ended |
6 Months Ended |
Jun. 30, 2020 |
Jun. 30, 2019 |
Jun. 30, 2020 |
Jun. 30, 2019 |
| Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Equity at beginning of period |
$ 50,977
|
$ 47,307
|
|
$ 55,551
|
|
| Exercise of options and employee transactions, equity impact |
|
|
|
823
|
$ 200
|
| Equity-based compensation, equity impact |
203
|
175
|
|
365
|
447
|
| Shares delivered to divested business employees, equity impact |
8
|
32
|
|
29
|
32
|
| Taxes on treasury shares |
|
(185)
|
[1] |
30
|
(185)
|
| Increase of treasury share repurchase obligation under a share buyback trading plan |
|
(2,573)
|
|
|
(2,289)
|
| Dividends |
|
|
|
(6,987)
|
(6,645)
|
| Dividend in kind |
|
2,927
|
|
|
(23,434)
|
| Net income |
1,867
|
6,800
|
|
4,040
|
8,567
|
| Other comprehensive income |
835
|
90
|
|
175
|
(667)
|
| Transaction costs recorded in equity |
|
(301)
|
[2] |
|
(253)
|
| Impact of change in ownership of consolidated entities |
|
(5)
|
|
|
(5)
|
| Other movements |
4
|
7
|
|
9
|
13
|
| Equity at end of period |
53,885
|
51,504
|
|
$ 53,885
|
51,504
|
| Previously stated [member] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Equity at beginning of period |
|
|
|
|
78,692
|
| Increase (decrease) due to changes in accounting policy required by IFRSs [member] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Equity at beginning of period |
|
|
|
|
3
|
| Restated Value Adjustments [member] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Equity at beginning of period |
|
|
|
|
$ 78,695
|
| Equity attributable to owners of parent [member] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Number of shares outstanding at beginning of period |
|
|
|
2,265.0
|
2,311.2
|
| Equity at beginning of period |
50,903
|
47,229
|
|
$ 55,474
|
|
| Shares acquired to be cancelled |
|
|
|
|
(32.8)
|
| Shares acquired for cancellation, equity impact |
|
|
|
|
$ (2,819)
|
| Other share purchases |
|
|
|
(1.6)
|
(1.6)
|
| Other share purchases, equity impact |
|
|
|
$ (150)
|
$ (153)
|
| Exercise of options and employee transactions shares |
|
|
|
14.7
|
5.5
|
| Exercise of options and employee transactions, equity impact |
|
|
|
$ 823
|
$ 200
|
| Equity based compensation shares |
|
|
|
10.6
|
9.5
|
| Equity-based compensation, equity impact |
203
|
175
|
|
$ 365
|
$ 447
|
| Shares delivered to divested business employees |
|
|
|
0.3
|
|
| Shares delivered to divested business employees, equity impact |
8
|
32
|
|
$ 29
|
32
|
| Taxes on treasury shares |
|
(185)
|
[1] |
30
|
(185)
|
| Increase of treasury share repurchase obligation under a share buyback trading plan |
|
(2,573)
|
|
|
(2,289)
|
| Dividends |
|
|
|
(6,987)
|
(6,645)
|
| Dividend in kind |
|
2,927
|
|
|
(23,434)
|
| Net income |
1,867
|
6,799
|
|
4,043
|
8,565
|
| Other comprehensive income |
836
|
89
|
|
176
|
(667)
|
| Transaction costs recorded in equity |
|
(301)
|
[2] |
|
(253)
|
| Impact of change in ownership of consolidated entities |
|
(3)
|
|
|
(3)
|
| Other movements |
$ 4
|
$ 7
|
|
$ 9
|
$ 13
|
| Number of shares outstanding at end of period |
2,289.0
|
2,291.8
|
|
2,289.0
|
2,291.8
|
| Equity at end of period |
$ 53,812
|
$ 51,426
|
|
$ 53,812
|
$ 51,426
|
| Equity attributable to owners of parent [member] | Previously stated [member] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Equity at beginning of period |
|
|
|
|
78,614
|
| Equity attributable to owners of parent [member] | Increase (decrease) due to changes in accounting policy required by IFRSs [member] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Equity at beginning of period |
|
|
|
|
3
|
| Equity attributable to owners of parent [member] | Restated Value Adjustments [member] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Equity at beginning of period |
|
|
|
|
$ 78,617
|
|
|