2.2.0.25falsefalse06041 - Disclosure - Earnings per share (Details Textuals)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Jan-01-2011_Mar-31-2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$ThreeMonthsEnded_31Mar2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000318154duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3true0amgn_EarningsPerShareTextualsAbstractamgnfalsenadurationEarnings per share.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringEarnings per share.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmountus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse3900000039falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4000000040falsefalsefalsefalsefalseSharesxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesSecurities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would increase EPS amounts or decrease loss per share amounts for the period presented.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 13, 14
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 171
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph c
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