# Oruro Department, Bolivia – Provinces, Population & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/

Department · Bolivia 

# Oruro Department

Oruro Department is a department of Bolivia. It had an estimated **553,088 people** in 2022 on 52,194 km² (about 11 per km²). Its main town is Oruro. It is divided into 16 provinces. 2,249 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 972 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 553,088people (2022)
- 52,194km²
- 16provinces
- 972mapped services

## How many people live in Oruro Department?

Oruro Department had an estimated **553,088 people** in 2022 — 4.6% of Bolivia (Estado Plurinacional de), 7th of 9 departments. There are 963 women for every 1,000 men (below the Bolivia (Estado Plurinacional de) figure of 993). Spread over 52,194 km², that is about **11 people per km²**, 5th of 9 departments.

27.4% of people are children under 15 and 8.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 28 years (it is 26 across Bolivia (Estado Plurinacional de)). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 56 children and older people.

0–4 ****47,975**

5–9 ****50,704**

10–14 ****52,766**

15–19 ****51,546**

20–24 ****48,248**

25–29 ****44,337**

30–34 ****40,664**

35–39 ****38,570**

40–44 ****35,610**

45–49 ****30,235**

50–54 ****25,376**

55–59 ****21,391**

60–64 ****17,875**

65–69 ****15,456**

70–74 ****12,488**

75–79 ****9,227**

80+ ****10,620**

Source: [UNFPA and Ministerio de Educación, Ministerio de Salud y Deportes, Instituto Nacional de Estadística. via OCHA HDX, population 2022 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-bol).

## Where is Oruro Department?

Oruro Department lies in [Bolivia](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/). It borders 3 other departments: [Cochabamba Department](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/cochabamba/), [La Paz Department](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/la-paz/) and [Potosí Department](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/potosi/). By area it is the 7th largest of 9 departments in Bolivia. It covers 4.8% of [Bolivia (Estado Plurinacional de)](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/). The centre of Oruro Department is about 275 km in a straight line from Sucre, the capital. The centre point is at 18.6044° S, 67.8341° W.

Source: [Ministerio de Desarrollo Rural y Tierras via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-bol).

## Things to see in and around Oruro Department

OpenStreetMap lists 118 named sights in Oruro Department: 32 attractions; 16 volcanos; 16 viewpoints; 12 museums; 12 hot springs; 9 memorials; 7 monuments; 6 archaeological sites; 4 ruins; 1 zoo; 1 theme park; 1 waterfall; 1 national park.

- Centro Arqueológico Alcaya · museum
- Museo Diocesano San Miguel de la Ranchería · museum
- Museo Ferroviario Simón Iturri Patiño · museum
- Museo Histórico de Andamarca · museum
- Museo Minero del Socavón · museum
- Museo Nacional Antropológico Eduardo López Rivas · museum
- Museo Parque Sajama · museum
- Museo Simón Iturri Patiño · museum
- Museo Tller de Arte Cardozo Velázquez · museum
- Museo de la Revolución Democratica y Cultural Orinoca · museum
- Museo histórico Idelfonso Murguía Anze · museum
- Museo mineralógico · museum
- Chullpas de Pukara Chullpa · archaeological site
- K'ara Mayu · archaeological site
- Lucumpaya Pawa · archaeological site
- Muros de Chacara · archaeological site
- Pukara Loma · archaeological site
- Sitios Arqueologicos · archaeological site
- Control velocidad eloy · waterfall
- Sajama National Park · national park
- Conchupata · viewpoint
- Crater View · viewpoint
- El Cóndor · viewpoint
- Horned coot · viewpoint
- Mirador · viewpoint
- Mirador Huallaqueri · viewpoint
- Mirador de Coipasa · viewpoint
- Mirador del Crater del Volcan Thunupa (desde Jirira) · viewpoint
- Mirador del Cráter del Volcan Thunupa (Tunupa) · viewpoint
- Mirador del Cráter del Volcán Thunupa · viewpoint

…and 88 more.

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Oruro Department

- Time zoneUTC−4, no daylight saving · America/La_Paz
- CurrencyBoliviano (BOB)
- Country calling code+591
- LanguagesSpanish, Quechua, Aymara
- Plug typesType A, C · 115/230 V
- Driving sideRight

### Nearest airports

- Juan Mendoza International Airport (ORU) · Oruro108 km
- Jorge Wilsterman International Airport (CBB) · Cochabamba219 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.2 hours, sunrise around 05:49) and shortest in Jun (about 11.0 hours, sunrise around 07:00, sunset around 18:01).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 06:06 19:13 13.1 h 

Feb 06:24 19:06 12.7 h 

Mar 06:34 18:47 12.2 h 

Apr 06:40 18:22 11.7 h 

May 06:49 18:05 11.3 h 

Jun 07:00 18:01 11.0 h 

Jul 07:04 18:10 11.1 h 

Aug 06:52 18:20 11.5 h 

Sep 06:27 18:25 12.0 h 

Oct 06:02 18:31 12.5 h 

Nov 05:46 18:45 13.0 h 

Dec 05:49 19:03 13.2 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Provinces of Oruro Department

Province Area km² Municipalities Services 

[Abaroa Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/abaroa/) 3,827 2 38 

[Carangas Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/carangas/) 4,162 2 46 

[Cercado Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/cercado/) 5,281 4 593 

[Ladislao Cabrera Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/ladislao-cabrera/) 7,146 2 40 

[Litoral Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/litoral/) 2,652 5 7 

[Mejillones Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/mejillones/) 665 3 6 

[Nor Carangas Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/nor-carangas/) 904 1 17 

[Pantaleón Dalence Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/pantaleon-dalence/) 930 2 29 

[Poopó Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/poopo/) 1,994 3 15 

[Sabaya Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/sabaya/) 5,854 3 26 

[Sajama Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/sajama/) 7,589 2 54 

[San Pedro de Totora Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/san-pedro-de-totora/) 1,380 1 23 

[Saucarí Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/saucari/) 3,116 1 18 

[Sebastián Pagador Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/sebastian-pagador/) 2,588 1 29 

[Sur Carangas Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/sur-carangas/) 3,740 2 27 

[Tomás Barrón Province](https://wherepedia.org/bolivia/oruro/tomas-barron/) 367 1 4 

Source: [Ministerio de Desarrollo Rural y Tierras via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-bol); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

## Largest towns in Oruro Department

- Oruro208,684
- Huanuni15,492
- Challapata8,016
- Eucaliptus2,373
- Machacamarca2,044
- Poopó1,720
- Totoral1,645
- Curahuara de Carangas1,613

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Oruro Department

Named natural and historic features inside Oruro Department, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

216 rivers and streams; 40 lakes.

- Arroyo Ñaqueta
- Laguna Andapata
- Laguna Anocara
- Laguna Canasa
- Laguna Chiar Kkola
- Laguna Chica Micaya
- Laguna Churuputo
- Laguna Copachamaya
- Laguna Huaña Kkota
- Laguna Igusallani
- Laguna Inca Ingenio
- Laguna Isla
- Laguna Jachcha Huana
- Laguna Jankho Kkota
- Laguna Jankho Kkota
- Laguna Jaya Kkoya
- Laguna Jayu Kkota
- Laguna Jayu Kkota
- Laguna Khara Kkota
- Laguna Khara Kkota
- Laguna Khara Kkotalla
- Laguna Khellu Kkota
- Laguna Kirquiza
- Laguna Kkota Cancha

…and 232 more.

### Coast and islands

6 islands; 3 bays; 3 headlands.

- Bahía Bolívar
- Bahía Sucre
- Golfo Santa Epifanía
- Isla Chicachica
- Isla Churu-Churu Pampa
- Isla Crequi Montfort
- Isla Filomena
- Isla Panza
- Isla de Panza
- Punta Negra
- Punta San Miguel
- Punta San Silvestre

### Hills and mountains

410 mountains; 217 hills; 6 mountain passes.

- Nevado Sajama · 6,239 m
- Cerro Acotango · 6,037 m
- Cerro Cabaraya · 5,838 m
- Cerro Umurata · 5,734 m
- Cerro Puquintica · 5,555 m
- Cerro Curumaya · 5,503 m
- Cerro Oke Okeni · 5,390 m
- Cerro Tata Sabaya · 5,383 m
- Cerro Jachcha Condoriri · 5,380 m
- Cerro Tunupa · 5,251 m
- Cerro Culebra · 5,188 m
- Nevado Condoriri · 5,182 m
- Cerro Jatun Wila · 5,177 m
- Cerro Toro · 5,135 m
- Cerro Laram Khaua · 5,106 m
- Cerro Sojta Kkota · 5,104 m
- Cerro Santa Catalina · 5,080 m
- Cerro Asu Asuni · 5,077 m
- Cerro Huaylloco · 5,075 m
- Cerro Cholcani · 5,042 m
- Cerro Condor Iquiña · 5,040 m
- Cerro Capaja · 5,039 m
- Nevado Kakepe Junthuta · 5,036 m
- Cerro Chingurani · 5,034 m

…and 609 more.

### Forests and nature

1 park.

- Sajama National Park

### Getting around

10 railway stations; 6 airfields; 2 airports.

- Andamarca
- Chipaya
- Corque
- Estación Challapata
- Estación Cuesta Colorada
- Estación Huancané
- Estación Huanuni
- Estación Huari
- Estación Obrajes
- Estación San Pedro
- Estación Sevaruyo
- Estación Soledad
- Estación Tolapalca
- Eucalipto
- Huachacalla
- Intiraymi Airport
- Oruro Airport
- Sabaya

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Oruro Department and the best time to visit

In Oruro Department, the warmest month is Dec (average 12 °C) and the coolest is Jul (5 °C). About 355 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (82 mm) and the driest May (5 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **October to March**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 12 82 

Feb 12 70 

Mar 11 44 

Apr 10 16 

May 6 5 

Jun 5 10 

Jul 5 6 

Aug 6 8 

Sep 8 15 

Oct 10 19 

Nov 12 20 

Dec 12 60 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Oruro Department

Places mapped inside Oruro Department in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals84
- Banks42
- ATMs11
- Petrol pumps32
- Hotels81
- Shopping malls2
- Schools348
- Colleges and universities45
- Cinemas2
- Pharmacies34
- Restaurants206
- Police stations42
- Dental clinics43

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Oruro Department?In Bolivia
- What is the population of Oruro Department?553,088 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Oruro Department?About 28 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Oruro Department?About 11 people per km²
- What borders Oruro Department?Cochabamba Department, La Paz Department and Potosí Department
- What is there to see in Oruro Department?Aguas Termales, Aguas Termales Colchapata, Aguas Termales de Castilla Huma, Aguas Termales de Obrajes
- What time zone is Oruro Department in?UTC−4
- What currency is used in Oruro Department?Boliviano (BOB)
- What language is spoken in Oruro Department?Spanish, Quechua, Aymara (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Oruro Department?Oruro
- What is the highest point in Oruro Department?Nevado Sajama (6,239 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Oruro Department?October to March
- How many hospitals are in Oruro Department?84 mapped
- How many banks are in Oruro Department?42 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Oruro Department?11 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Oruro Department?32 mapped
- What is the P-code of Oruro Department?BO04 (OCHA common operational dataset)