The predominantly mining activity of the department, with intensive occupation of labor and of big importance for the economy of the country, turned out to be severely affected immediately as a result of the fall of the prices of the minerals on the international market and also for the deterioration and absence in modernization of the technological conditions and of the form of production. As consequence, his occupational structure suffered important changes sharpening the absence of opportunities of work. This situation derived in the named process of "relocation" that mobilized big contingents of workpeople towards other geographical areas of the national territory and who determined the stagnation of the population growth shown up in the censuses realized the year 1976 and 1992.

The capital of the department is the city of Oruro, one of the biggest populations of the central region of the plateau. It was planned by the proper characteristics of the Spanish cities of Latin America, in square apples and streets planned to cord concerning the principal square.

It is known as the " folkloric capital of Bolivia " for develops there the holiday of the carnival, which there is considered one of the most magnificent and dazzling spectacles of America.

Despite the impact suffered in all his activities by the special circumstances and especially in the administrative functions of the sector miner - metallurgist, the city of Oruro has kept on growing to quite significant rhythm on having had to absorb an important part of the migratory flows generated from the rural area of the department.