|**Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans (Detail) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                        
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|**Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Prescription expense reimbursements received                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | $ 133pfe_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsinCurrentPeriod                                                                                                                                                               
|U.S. Qualified [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Contributions from our general assets for the three months ended March 29, 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 1,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember                                 
|Expected contributions from our general assets during 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 1,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
|U.S. Supplemental (Non-Qualified) [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Contributions from our general assets for the three months ended March 29, 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 72us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis= us-gaap_SupplementalEmployeeRetirementPlanDefinedBenefitMember                                    
|Expected contributions from our general assets during 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 136us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis= us-gaap_SupplementalEmployeeRetirementPlanDefinedBenefitMember  
|International [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Contributions from our general assets for the three months ended March 29, 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 58us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember                                                   
|Expected contributions from our general assets during 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 240us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember                 
|Postretirement Plans [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Contributions from our general assets for the three months ended March 29, 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | (81)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember                                     
|Expected contributions from our general assets during 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | $ 86us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember    
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|[1]
              Contributions to the postretirement plans were offset by reimbursements of approximately $133 million received for eligible 2014 prescription expenses for certain retirees.[2]
              Contributions expected to be made for 2015 are inclusive of amounts contributed during the three months ended March 29, 2015, including the $1.0 billion voluntary contribution that was made in January 2015 for the U.S. Qualified plan. The U.S. supplemental (non-qualified) pension plan, international pension plan and the postretirement plan contributions from our general assets include direct employer benefit payments. | [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Contributions to the postretirement plans were offset by reimbursements of approximately $133 million received for eligible 2014 prescription expenses for certain retirees.                                          
|[1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Contributions to the postretirement plans were offset by reimbursements of approximately $133 million received for eligible 2014 prescription expenses for certain retirees.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|[2]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Contributions expected to be made for 2015 are inclusive of amounts contributed during the three months ended March 29, 2015, including the $1.0 billion voluntary contribution that was made in January 2015 for the U.S. Qualified plan. The U.S. supplemental (non-qualified) pension plan, international pension plan and the postretirement plan contributions from our general assets include direct employer benefit payments.

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