Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)

Reporting Entity [Axis]

0000310158 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)

Segment Reporting [Abstract]	Period [Axis]
	2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Sales of Company's Products	Sales of the Company’s products were as follows: Years Ended December 31 2016   2015   2014 Primary Care and Women’s Health           Cardiovascular           Zetia $ 2,560   $ 2,526   $ 2,650 Vytorin 1,141   1,251   1,516 Diabetes           Januvia 3,908   3,863   3,931 Janumet 2,201   2,151   2,071 General Medicine and Women’s Health           NuvaRing 777   732   723 Implanon/Nexplanon 606   588   502 Dulera 436   536   460 Follistim AQ 355   383   412 Hospital and Specialty           Hepatitis           Zepatier 555   —   — HIV           Isentress 1,387   1,511   1,673 Hospital Acute Care           Cubicin (1) 1,087   1,127   25 Noxafil 595   487   402 Invanz 561   569   529 Cancidas 558   573   681 Bridion 482   353   340 Primaxin 297   313   329 Immunology           Remicade 1,268   1,794   2,372 Simponi 766   690   689 Oncology           Keytruda 1,402   566   55 Emend 549   535   553 Temodar 283   312   350 Diversified Brands           Respiratory           Singulair 915   931   1,092 Nasonex 537   858   1,099 Other           Cozaar/Hyzaar 511   667   806 Arcoxia 450   471   519 Fosamax 284   359   470 Zocor 186   217   258 Vaccines (2)           Gardasil/Gardasil 9 2,173   1,908   1,738 ProQuad/M-M-R II/Varivax 1,640   1,505   1,394 Zostavax 685   749   765 RotaTeq 652   610   659 Pneumovax 23 641   542   746 Other pharmaceutical (3) 4,703   5,105   6,233 Total Pharmaceutical segment sales 35,151   34,782   36,042 Other segment sales (4) 3,862   3,667   5,758 Total segment sales 39,013   38,449   41,800 Other (5) 794   1,049   437   $ 39,807   $ 39,498   $ 42,237 (1)  Sales of Cubicin in 2015 represent sales subsequent to the Cubist acquisition date. Sales of Cubicin in 2014 reflect sales in Japan pursuant to a previously existing licensing agreement. (2)  These amounts do not reflect sales of vaccines sold in most major European markets through the Company’s joint venture, SPMSD, the results of which are reflected in equity income from affiliates which is included in Other (income) expense, net. These amounts do, however, reflect supply sales to SPMSD. On December 31, 2016, Merck and Sanofi terminated the SPMSD joint venture (see Note 8). (3)  Other pharmaceutical primarily reflects sales of other human health pharmaceutical products, including products within the franchises not listed separately. (4)  Represents the non-reportable segments of Animal Health, Healthcare Services and Alliances, as well as Consumer Care until its divestiture on October 1, 2014 (see Note 3). The Alliances segment includes revenue from the Company’s relationship with AZLP until termination on June 30, 2014 (see Note 8). (5)  Other is primarily comprised of miscellaneous corporate revenues, including revenue hedging activities, as well as third-party manufacturing sales. Other in 2016 and 2014 also includes approximately $170 million and $232 million, respectively, in connection with the sale of the marketing rights to certain products.
Consolidated Revenues by Geographic Area	Consolidated revenues by geographic area where derived are as follows: Years Ended December 31 2016   2015   2014 United States $ 18,478   $ 17,519   $ 17,071 Europe, Middle East and Africa 10,953   10,677   13,174 Asia Pacific 3,918   3,825   3,952 Japan 2,846   2,673   3,471 Latin America 2,155   2,825   3,151 Other 1,457   1,979   1,418   $ 39,807   $ 39,498   $ 42,237
Reconciliation of Segment Profits to Income Before Taxes	A reconciliation of total segment profits to consolidated Income before taxes is as follows: Years Ended December 31 2016   2015   2014 Segment profits:           Pharmaceutical segment $ 22,180   $ 21,658   $ 22,164 Other segments 1,507   1,573   2,386 Total segment profits 23,687   23,231   24,550 Other profits 481   810   627 Unallocated:           Interest income 328   289   266 Interest expense (693 )   (672 )   (732 ) Equity income from affiliates (19 )   135   59 Depreciation and amortization (1,585 )   (1,573 )   (2,452 ) Research and development (9,084 )   (5,871 )   (5,823 ) Amortization of purchase accounting adjustments (3,692 )   (4,816 )   (4,182 ) Restructuring costs (651 )   (619 )   (1,013 ) Gain on sale of certain migraine clinical development programs 100   250   — Charge related to the settlement of worldwide Keytruda patent litigation (625 )   —   — Gain on divestiture of certain ophthalmic products —   147   480 Foreign currency devaluation related to Venezuela —   (876 )   — Net charge related to the settlement of Vioxx shareholder class action litigation —   (680 )   — Gain on divestiture of Merck Consumer Care —   —   11,209 Gain on AstraZeneca option exercise —   —   741 Loss on extinguishment of debt —   —   (628 ) Other unallocated, net (3,588 )   (4,354 )   (5,819 )   $ 4,659   $ 5,401   $ 17,283
Equity Income from Affiliates and Depreciation and Amortization Included in Segment Profits	Equity income from affiliates and depreciation and amortization included in segment profits is as follows:   Pharmaceutical   All Other   Total Year Ended December 31, 2016              Included in segment profits:           Equity income from affiliates $ 105   $ —   $ 105 Depreciation and amortization (160 )   (23 )   (183 ) Year Ended December 31, 2015              Included in segment profits:           Equity income from affiliates $ 70   $ —   $ 70 Depreciation and amortization (82 )   (18 )   (100 ) Year Ended December 31, 2014              Included in segment profits:           Equity income from affiliates $ 90   $ 108   $ 198 Depreciation and amortization (39 )   (18 )   (57 )
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net by Geographic Area	Property, plant and equipment, net by geographic area where located is as follows: December 31 2016   2015   2014 United States $ 8,114   $ 8,467   $ 8,727 Europe, Middle East and Africa 2,732   2,844   3,120 Asia Pacific 775   842   897 Latin America 234   182   207 Japan 164   164   172 Other 7   8   13   $ 12,026   $ 12,507   $ 13,136