| Shareholder Report | 12 Months Ended |
| Jun. 30, 2024 USD ($) Holding |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | N-CSR |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Registrant Name | Emerging Markets Growth Fund, Inc. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000794458 |
| Entity Investment Company Type | N-1A |
| Document Period End Date | Jun. 30, 2024 |
| Emerging Markets Growth Fund Class M | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | Emerging Markets Growth Fund |
| Class Name | Class M |
| Trading Symbol | EMRGX |
| Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] | This annual shareholder report contains important information about Emerging Markets Growth Fund for the period from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. |
| Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual | annual shareholder report |
| Additional Information [Text Block] | You can find additional information about the fund at capitalgroup.com/EMGF-M |
| Additional Information Phone Number | (800) 421-4225 |
| Additional Information Website | capitalgroup.com/EMGF-M |
| Expenses [Text Block] | What were the fund costs for the last year? Share class Costs of a $10,000 investment Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment Class M $69 0.68% |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 69 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 0.68% |
| Factors Affecting Performance [Text Block] | Management's discussion of fund performance The fund’s Class M shares gained 2.60% for the year ended June 30, 2024. That result compares with a 13.56% gain for the MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index. For information on returns for additional periods, including the fund lifetime, please refer to capitalgroup.com/EMGF-M What factors influenced results Emerging markets advanced during the fund’s fiscal year but rose less than other global economies as China’s rate of economic growth remained a source of concern, the U.S. dollar gained strength and the U.S. Federal Reserve did not lower rates as expected. On an absolute basis, equity markets in India and Taiwan provided strong returns. Growth in emerging economies was mixed for much of the fund’s fiscal year. India led the way, boosted by rising infrastructure investment, while Southeast Asian countries benefited from stable demand for manufactured goods. China’s economy was helped by rising exports but domestic spending was tepid due to a weak property market. And despite aggressive interest rate cuts, Brazil’s economy struggled. From a geographic perspective, equities based in China and Brazil weighed on returns, particularly in the health care and financials sectors. The fund’s holdings in information technology, consumer staples, consumer discretionary and financials saw returns surpassing those of the overall portfolio. |
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | The fund’s past performance is not a predictor of its future performance. |
| Line Graph [Table Text Block] | |
| Average Annual Return [Table Text Block] | Average annual total returns 1 year 5 years 10 years Emerging Markets Growth Fund — Class M* 2.60% 1.63% 2.28% MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index † 13.56 3.93 3.09 * † index |
| No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] | The line chart and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares. |
| Net Assets | $ 1,373,000,000 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 150 |
| Advisory Fees Paid, Amount | $ 9,000,000 |
| Investment Company, Portfolio Turnover | 34% |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Key fund statistics Fund net assets (in millions) $1,373 Total number of portfolio holdings 150 Total advisory fees paid (in millions) $9 Portfolio turnover rate 34% |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Portfolio holdings by sector |
| Emerging Markets Growth Fund Class F-3 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | Emerging Markets Growth Fund |
| Class Name | Class F-3 |
| Trading Symbol | EMGEX |
| Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] | This annual shareholder report contains important information about Emerging Markets Growth Fund for the period from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. |
| Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual | annual shareholder report |
| Additional Information [Text Block] | You can find additional information about the fund at capitalgroup.com/EMGF-F3 |
| Additional Information Phone Number | (800) 421-4225 |
| Additional Information Website | capitalgroup.com/EMGF-F3 |
| Expenses [Text Block] | What were the fund costs for the last year? Share class Costs of a $10,000 investment Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment Class F-3 $72 0.71% |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 72 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 0.71% |
| Factors Affecting Performance [Text Block] | Management's discussion of fund performance The fund’s Class F-3 shares gained 2.42% for the year ended June 30, 2024. That result compares with a 13.56% gain for the MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index. For information on returns for additional periods, including the fund lifetime, please refer to capitalgroup.com/EMGF-F3 What factors influenced results Emerging markets advanced during the fund’s fiscal year but rose less than other global economies as China’s rate of economic growth remained a source of concern, the U.S. dollar gained strength and the U.S. Federal Reserve did not lower rates as expected. On an absolute basis, equity markets in India and Taiwan provided strong returns. Growth in emerging economies was mixed for much of the fund’s fiscal year. India led the way, boosted by rising infrastructure investment, while Southeast Asian countries benefited from stable demand for manufactured goods. China’s economy was helped by rising exports but domestic spending was tepid due to a weak property market. And despite aggressive interest rate cuts, Brazil’s economy struggled. From a geographic perspective, equities based in China and Brazil weighed on returns, particularly in the health care and financials sectors. The fund’s holdings in information technology, consumer staples, consumer discretionary and financials saw returns surpassing those of the overall portfolio. |
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | The fund’s past performance is not a predictor of its future performance. |
| Line Graph [Table Text Block] | |
| Average Annual Return [Table Text Block] | Average annual total returns 1 year 5 years Since inception 1 Emerging Markets Growth Fund — Class F-3 2 2.42% 1.55% 2.06% MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index 3 13.56 3.93 2.87 1 2 3 |
| Performance Inception Date | Sep. 01, 2017 |
| No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] | The line chart and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares. |
| Net Assets | $ 1,373,000,000 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 150 |
| Advisory Fees Paid, Amount | $ 9,000,000 |
| Investment Company, Portfolio Turnover | 34% |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Key fund statistics Fund net assets (in millions) $1,373 Total number of portfolio holdings 150 Total advisory fees paid (in millions) $9 Portfolio turnover rate 34% |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Portfolio holdings by sector |
| Emerging Markets Growth Fund Class R-6 | |
| Shareholder Report [Line Items] | |
| Fund Name | Emerging Markets Growth Fund |
| Class Name | Class R-6 |
| Trading Symbol | REFGX |
| Annual or Semi-Annual Statement [Text Block] | This annual shareholder report contains important information about Emerging Markets Growth Fund for the period from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. |
| Shareholder Report Annual or Semi-Annual | annual shareholder report |
| Additional Information [Text Block] | You can find additional information about the fund at capitalgroup.com/EMGF-R6 |
| Additional Information Phone Number | (800) 421-4225 |
| Additional Information Website | capitalgroup.com/EMGF-R6 |
| Expenses [Text Block] | What were the fund costs for the last year? Share class Costs of a $10,000 investment Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment Class R-6 $72 0.71% |
| Expenses Paid, Amount | $ 72 |
| Expense Ratio, Percent | 0.71% |
| Factors Affecting Performance [Text Block] | Management's discussion of fund performance The fund’s Class R-6 shares gained 2.40% for the year ended June 30, 2024. That result compares with a 13.56% gain for the MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index. For information on returns for additional periods, including the fund lifetime, please refer to capitalgroup.com/EMGF-R6 What factors influenced results Emerging markets advanced during the fund’s fiscal year but rose less than other global economies as China’s rate of economic growth remained a source of concern, the U.S. dollar gained strength and the U.S. Federal Reserve did not lower rates as expected. On an absolute basis, equity markets in India and Taiwan provided strong returns. Growth in emerging economies was mixed for much of the fund’s fiscal year. India led the way, boosted by rising infrastructure investment, while Southeast Asian countries benefited from stable demand for manufactured goods. China’s economy was helped by rising exports but domestic spending was tepid due to a weak property market. And despite aggressive interest rate cuts, Brazil’s economy struggled. From a geographic perspective, equities based in China and Brazil weighed on returns, particularly in the health care and financials sectors. The fund’s holdings in information technology, consumer staples, consumer discretionary and financials saw returns surpassing those of the overall portfolio. |
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | The fund’s past performance is not a predictor of its future performance. |
| Line Graph [Table Text Block] | |
| Average Annual Return [Table Text Block] | Average annual total returns 1 year 5 years Since inception 1 Emerging Markets Growth Fund — Class R-6 2 2.40% 1.52% 2.01% MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index 3 13.56 3.93 2.87 1 2 3 reinvested |
| Performance Inception Date | Sep. 01, 2017 |
| No Deduction of Taxes [Text Block] | The line chart and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of fund shares. |
| Net Assets | $ 1,373,000,000 |
| Holdings Count | Holding | 150 |
| Advisory Fees Paid, Amount | $ 9,000,000 |
| Investment Company, Portfolio Turnover | 34% |
| Additional Fund Statistics [Text Block] | Key fund statistics Fund net assets (in millions) $1,373 Total number of portfolio holdings 150 Total advisory fees paid (in millions) $9 Portfolio turnover rate 34% |
| Holdings [Text Block] | Portfolio holdings by sector |
