Document information Document type Amendment flag Document period end date Amendment description Entity common stock shares outstanding Entity Listings [Line Items] Entity Listings, Instrument [Axis] Instrument [Domain] Entity Listings [Table] Entity [Text Block] Entities [Table] Entity Information [Line Items] Entity registrant name Entity central index key Current fiscal year end date Entity well known seasoned issuer Entity voluntary filers Entity current reporting status Entity filer category Entity public float Income Statement [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement Scenario [Axis] Statement [Line Items] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Adoption of New Accounting Policies [Abstract] Acquisitions [Abstract] Collaborative Arrangements [Abstract] Cost-Reduction Initiatives [Abstract] Acquisition-Related Costs [Abstract] Comprehensive Income/(Expense) [Abstract] Financial Instruments [Abstract] Inventories [Abstract] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract] Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans [Abstract] Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders [Abstract] Segment Information [Abstract] Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Costs and expenses: Revenues [Abstract] Cost of sales Restructuring charges and acquisition-related costs Other (income)/deductions - net Selling, informational and administrative expenses Research and development expenses Amortization of intangible assets Acquisition-related in-process research and development charges Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. Net income before allocation to noncontrolling interests Discontinued operations - net of tax, total Income from continuing operations Provision for taxes on income Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings per share - diluted: Earnings per share - basic: Weighted-average shares used to calculate earnings per common share: Diluted Basic Cash dividends paid per common share Income from continuing operations attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders Discontinued operations - net of tax Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders [Diluted] Discontinued operations - net of tax [Diluted] Income from continuing operations attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders Basis of Presentation [Text Block] Adoption of New Accounting Policies [Text Block] Collaborative Arrangements [Text Block] Comprehensive Income/(Expense) [Text Block] Inventories [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Text Block] Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders Segment Information [Text Block] Assets Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Liabilities [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Total assets Total liabilities Inventories Short-term loans Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts Short-term investments Cash and cash equivalents Total current assets Long-term investments and loans Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation Goodwill Identifiable intangible assets, less accumulated amortization Other non-current assets, deferred taxes and deferred charges Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term debt Accounts payable Dividends payable Income taxes payable Accrued compensation and related items Other current liabilities Total current liabilities Long-term debt Pension benefit obligations Postretirement benefit obligations Deferred taxes Other non-current liabilities Total Pfizer Inc shareholders' equity Common stock Additional paid-in capital Employee benefit trust, at fair value Treasury stock Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive expense Preferred stock Equity attributable to noncontrolling interests Total shareholders' equity Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Revenues This element represents (i) the total amount of other operating income, not previously categorized, from items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation; and (ii) recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales, as well as excludes research and development expenses and selling, informational and administrative expenses. Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes on income Assets held for sale Acquisitions [Text Block] Cost-Reduction Initiatives [Text Block] Acquisition-Related Costs [Text Block] Financial Instruments [Text Block] Pending Acquisition [Abstract] Pending Acquisition of Wyeth [Text Block] Income taxes Interest Supplemental Cash Flow Information: Supplemental Cash Flow Information - Cash paid during the period for: Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Operating Activities Investing Activities Financing Activities Adjustments to reconcile net income before noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities: Share-based compensation expense Depreciation and amortization Deferred taxes from continuing operations Other non-cash adjustments Net cash provided by operating activities Purchases of property, plant and equipment Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of long-term investments Acquisitions, net of cash acquired Other investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Increase in short-term borrowings, net The cash inflow from a borrowing having initial term of repayment of more than three months but less than one year or one operating cycle (if the normal cycle is more than one year) plus the cash inflow from a borrowing having initial term of repayment within three months net of the cash outflow from repayment of a borrowing having initial term of repayment within three months. Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt Principal payments on long-term debt Cash dividends paid Stock option transactions and other The net cash inflow (outflow) from stock option transactions and other financing activities. Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities Effect of exchange-rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Income from continuing operations attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders [Dilluted] Discontinued operations - net of tax Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders Taxes and other current assets Purchases of common stock Treasury stock Accumulated other comprehensive expense Purchases of property, plant and equipment Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of long-term investments Acquisitions, net of cash acquired Other investing activities Increase in short-term borrowings, net Principal payments on long-term debt Purchases of common stock Cash dividends paid Other taxes payable Principal payments on other short-term borrowings, net Principal payments on other short-term borrowings, net Changes in assets and liabilities (net of businesses acquired and divested) The cash outflow from a repayment of a borrowing having initial term of repayment of more than three months but less than one year or one operating cycle (if the normal cycle is more than one year) plus the cash outflow from a repayment of a borrowing having initial term of repayment within three months net of the cash inflow of a borrowing having initial term of repayment within three months. Proceeds from sales and redemptions of short-term investments Proceeds from sales and redemptions of short-term investments Proceeds from sales and redemptions of long-term investments Discontinued operations - net of tax The cash inflow associated with the aggregate amount received by the entity through sale or maturity of short term marketable securities (trading, held-to-maturity, or available-for-sale) during the period. The cash inflow associated with the aggregate amount received by the entity through sale or maturity of long-term marketable securities (trading, held-to-maturity, or available-for-sale) during the period. Description of restructuring activities including exit and disposal activities, which should include facts and circumstances leading to the plan, the expected plan completion date, the major types of costs associated with the plan activities, total expected costs, the accrual balance at the end of the period, and the periods over which the remaining accrual will be settled, and implementation costs, primarily related to accelerated depreciation of certain assets, as well as system and process standardization and the expansion of shared services. Description of a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) begun but not completed during the period, including information regarding the expensing of acquisition-related costs as incurred, in accordance with FAS 141R. This element represents the complete disclosure related to financial instruments, which may include (i) selected financial assets and liabilities; (ii) investments in debt and equity securities; (iii) short-term borrowings; (iv) long-term debt; (v)derivative financial instruments and hedging activities; and (vi) credit risk. Description of a pending material business combination not completed during the period. This element represents (i) restructuring charges, which are amounts charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a program that is planned and controlled by management, and materially changes either the scope of a business undertaken by an entity, or the manner in which that business is conducted; and (ii) acquisition-related costs, which are costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs can include transaction costs such as banking, legal, accounting and other costs directly related to effect a business combination as well as external, incremental costs of integration planning that are directly related to a business combination, including costs associated with preparing for systems and other integration activities. Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes on income Income from continuing operations Net income before allocation to noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders Total current assets Total assets Total current liabilities Total liabilities Total Pfizer Inc. shareholders' equity Total shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash used in investing activities Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities Effect of exchange-rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Employee benefit trust, at fair value