Name:	nvo_EBPAssetHeldForInvestmentParticipantLoanLoanTerm
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The amount credited as an excess to ERISA accounts in the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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The balance of ERISA accounts in the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP).

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Percentage of participant compensation eligible for employer matching contribution for participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_EBPEmployerContributionBasicParticipantCompensationMatchedPercentage
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Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The maximum age a participant may be to make super make-up contributions to the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

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The maximum amount of make-up contributions that may be made in the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

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The maximum amount of super make-up contributions a participant may make in the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

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The maximum term required for a participant to change their deferral rate in the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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The minimum age an employee must be to make super make-up contributions in the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

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The minimum age a participant must be to make make-up contributions to the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
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The minimum age of the participant required to receive pre-retirement distributions in the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The minimum service period an employee must complete to participate in the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage increase of eligible compensation contributed for participant automatically enrolled in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

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The minimum percentage of eligible compensation contributed for participant automatically enrolled in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) that will trigger a yearly increase in the percent contributed.

No definition available.

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The percentage of eligible compensation contributed for participant automatically enrolled in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) that will trigger annual re-enrollment in the plan.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of maximum contribution to employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_EBPParticipantContributionMaximumContribution
Namespace Prefix:	nvo_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of maximum post-tax annual compensation that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)), is permitted to contribute to total pretax annual compensation.

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_EBPParticipantContributionPosttaxMaximumAnnualCompensationToTotalCompensationPercentage
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Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percent vesting in year three of the employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

No definition available.

Name:	nvo_EBPVestingPercentageInYearThreeOfService
Namespace Prefix:	nvo_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of net asset available for benefit transferred to (from) employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) from (to) external plan.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478873/962-325-55-17

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-05(a)(Schedule III))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478416/962-205-50-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477063/962-205-45-8

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Percentage of employer matching contribution on eligible participant contribution to employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

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Percentage of participant compensation eligible for employer matching contribution for participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

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Indicates (true false) whether employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) met minimum funding requirement of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478416/962-205-50-1

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Amount of plan asset, in forfeited nonvested account, no longer allocated to participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

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Amount of decrease in forfeited nonvested account of employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) from administrative expense.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (j)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478416/962-205-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(5)(c))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

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Amount of decrease in forfeited nonvested account of employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) from employer contribution.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478873/962-325-55-17

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (j)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478416/962-205-50-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(5)(c))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Amount of decrease in forfeited nonvested account of employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) from reallocation to participant.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of unpaid principal plus accrued but unpaid interest for loan from participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478873/962-325-55-17

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-05(a)(Schedule II))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 310
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478642/962-310-45-2

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Amount of maximum account balance that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) can borrow.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Percentage of maximum account balance that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) can borrow to total participant account balance.

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Amount of minimum account balance that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) can borrow.

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMinimumBorrowingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Percentage of eligible compensation contributed for participant automatically enrolled in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of maximum pretax annual compensation that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)), is permitted to contribute to total pretax annual compensation.

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionPretaxMaximumAnnualCompensationToTotalCompensationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Interest rate on participant loan in schedule of asset held for investment of employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
-Number 2520
-Section 103
-Subsection 10
-Paragraph b
-Subparagraph (1)(i)(D)
-Publisher DOL-EBSA

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-05(a)(Schedule I))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantLoanInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockFundMember
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Data Type:	na
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