|**Financial Instruments by Balance Sheet Grouping (Detail) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Dec. 31, 2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Dec. 31, 2013                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|**Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | $ 53,627pfe_SelectedFinancialAssets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial liabilities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 37,371pfe_SelectedFinancialLiabilities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|**Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1,389pfe_SelectedFinancialAssets/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Short-term Investments [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|**Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 32,779pfe_SelectedFinancialAssets/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Long-term Investments [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|**Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 17,518pfe_SelectedFinancialAssets/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pfe_LongtermInvestmentsMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Other Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|**Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1,059pfe_SelectedFinancialAssets/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= us-gaap_OtherCurrentAssetsMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | [2]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|**Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 881pfe_SelectedFinancialAssets/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | [3]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Short-Term Debt And Current Portion of Long-Term Debt [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|**Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial liabilities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 5,141pfe_SelectedFinancialLiabilities/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pfe_ShortTermDebtAndCurrentPortionofLongTermDebtMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Other Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|**Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial liabilities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 93pfe_SelectedFinancialLiabilities/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= us-gaap_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | [4]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Long-term Debt [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|**Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial liabilities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 31,541pfe_SelectedFinancialLiabilities/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= us-gaap_LongTermDebtMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|**Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Selected financial liabilities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | $ 596pfe_SelectedFinancialLiabilities/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | [5]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|[1]
              We use a market approach in valuing financial instruments on a recurring basis. For additional information, see Note 1E. All of our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis use Level 2 inputs in the calculation of fair value, except less than 1% that use Level 1 inputs.[2]
              As of December 31, 2014, derivative instruments at fair value include interest rate swaps ($34 million), foreign currency swaps ($494 million) and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts ($531 million) and, as of December 31, 2013, include interest rate swaps ($90 million), foreign currency swaps ($24 million) and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts ($172 million).[3]
              As of December 31, 2014, derivative instruments at fair value include interest rate swaps ($767 million) and foreign currency swaps ($99 million) and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts ($15 million) and, as of December 31, 2013, include interest rate swaps ($378 million) and foreign currency swaps ($847 million).[4]
              At December 31, 2014, derivative instruments at fair value include interest rate swaps ($1 million), foreign currency swaps ($13 million) and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts ($78 million) and, as of December 31, 2013, include foreign currency swaps ($84 million) and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts ($219 million).[5]
              At December 31, 2014, derivative instruments at fair value include interest rate swaps ($16 million) and foreign currency swaps ($581 million) and, as of December 31, 2013, include interest rate swaps ($301 million) and foreign currency swaps ($26 million). | [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | We use a market approach in valuing financial instruments on a recurring basis. For additional information, see Note 1E. All of our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis use Level 2 inputs in the calculation of fair value, except less than 1% that use Level 1 inputs.
|[1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | We use a market approach in valuing financial instruments on a recurring basis. For additional information, see Note 1E. All of our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis use Level 2 inputs in the calculation of fair value, except less than 1% that use Level 1 inputs.                                                                         
|[2]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | As of December 31, 2014, derivative instruments at fair value include interest rate swaps ($34 million), foreign currency swaps ($494 million) and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts ($531 million) and, as of December 31, 2013, include interest rate swaps ($90 million), foreign currency swaps ($24 million) and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts ($172 million).
|[3]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | As of December 31, 2014, derivative instruments at fair value include interest rate swaps ($767 million) and foreign currency swaps ($99 million) and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts ($15 million) and, as of December 31, 2013, include interest rate swaps ($378 million) and foreign currency swaps ($847 million).                                                        
|[4]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | At December 31, 2014, derivative instruments at fair value include interest rate swaps ($1 million), foreign currency swaps ($13 million) and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts ($78 million) and, as of December 31, 2013, include foreign currency swaps ($84 million) and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts ($219 million).                                         
|[5]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | At December 31, 2014, derivative instruments at fair value include interest rate swaps ($16 million) and foreign currency swaps ($581 million) and, as of December 31, 2013, include interest rate swaps ($301 million) and foreign currency swaps ($26 million).                                                                                                                          

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