Economy There are three main economic centres in the department, located in the main urban areas: To the North and centre of the department, with centre in the town of Aigua, is a region dedicated to livestock raising, which has been sufferering from a steady depopulation in latter years. To the West, with centre in the city of Pan De Azucar, is the agro-industrial region, which lately has been experiencing a demographic stagnation. To the South, bordering the coastline, centered in Piriapolis and Maldonado's metropolitan area, including San Carlos and Punta Del Este, is the main tourism region, which has become one of the areas with the biggest growth rates in the country. The main crops are wheat, maize, sunflowers, oats, potatoes, among others, located in the south of the department. Fishing, as well as cattle and sheep raising have also a great importance in the department's economy. It is, along with Lavalleja, the main and most diversified mining area of the country producing (marble, metals, feldspars and construction materials), but it is currently underexploited. It has however, been the department with the fourth most significant mining activity, after Lavalleja, Canelones and Montevideo, with a production worth 4,642,123 dollars, according to 1999 data. Tourism, especially centered on Punta del Este, La Barra, Jose Ignacio and Piriápolis, has been one of the main sources of income for the department since the 1950s. It has also been the main cause for its unique urban concentration of the population (94% out of the total). The Laguna del Sauce International Airport is a significant local economic motor. Demographics At the 2011 census, Maldonado Department had a population of 164,300 (80,865 male and 83,435 female) and 110,794 households. There are also 11,151 business premises (2011). Demographic data for Maldonado Department in 2010: Population growth rate: 1.15% Birth Rate: 15.37 births/1,000 people Death Rate: 7.45 deaths/1,000 people Average age: 32.4 (31.1 male, 33.6 female) Life Expectancy at Birth: Total population: 77.27 years Male: 73.72 years Female: 81.01 years Average per household income: 27,894 pesos/month Urban per capita income: 11,245 pesos/month 2010 Data Source: Rural population According to the 2011 census, Maldonado department has a rural population of 5,159. Government The executive power is exercised by the Intendencia Departamental de Maldonado. The Intendant is elected every five years with the possibility of reelection. The legislative power is exercised by the Junta Departamental. On 15 March 2010, by