| Official Name: | Montevideo Department |
| Flag Size: | 105px |
| Pushpin Map: | Uruguay |
| Pushpin Image: | Uruguay_Montevideo_map.svg |
| Pushpin Label Position: | none |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Montevideo Department and its capital |
| Coordinates: | -34.9059°N -56.1916°W |
| Coor Pinpoint: | Montevideo (km.0) |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Uruguay |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1816 |
| Seat Type: | Capital of Department |
| Seat: | Montevideo (km.0) |
| Leader Title: | Intendant |
| Leader Name: | Carolina Cosse |
| Leader Title1: | Ruling party |
| Leader Name1: | Broad Front |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 530 |
| Population Total: | 1680108 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 census |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | Montevideano |
| Timezone1: | UYT |
| Utc Offset1: | -3 |
| Iso Code: | UY-MO |
Montevideo (pronounced as /es/) is a department (departamento) of Uruguay. It is by far the smallest department in area, but also by far the most populated. Its capital is the city of Montevideo, which is also the national capital. While most of the department is covered by the capital city, there are still smaller towns within its limits.
Montevideo Department was one of the first departments created in the current territory of Uruguay, then Provincia Oriental. It was created on 27 January 1816 by Montevideo Cabildo's decree and approved by José Artigas on next 3 February, at the same time Maldonado, Soriano, Canelones, San José and Colonia departments were being created. This decree mentioned about its territory that it comprised "beyond the Capital's wall until the Peñarol line". This administrative subdivision Montevideo Department was part of, stayed with some differences performed during the Portuguese and Brazilian domain of the province as Cisplatina Province.
After the Oriental Province obtained its independence as Uruguay, the first Constitution drafted by the Constitutional Assembly was sworn, and its first article confirmed the existing nine departments, among them Montevideo. Years later, the General Assembly passed the Law no. 84 of 7 April 1835, with the power granted by article 17 part 9 of the Constitution (currently article 85), by which reinstated "to Montevideo Department the borders it was assigned during the original creation of departments". This law was further regulated by the decree of 28 August 1835, where it precisely defined where were the borders of Montevideo: the Santa Lucía river from its estuary in River Plate to the convergence with Las Piedras stream, and following this stream until its source at the Pereira hills. There, the border continues through the turn of the hills until the source of Toledo stream, and from there goes through the Toledo stream until the confluence with the Carrasco shoal (in the middle of Carrasco wetlands) and from there going through Carrasco stream until its mouth to the River Plate.
The Intendencia Departamental de Montevideo is charged with the executive functions of the Department, while the legislative functions are exercised by the Junta Departamental de Montevideo.
According to the 2011 census, Montevideo Department has a population of 1,319,108 (613,990 male and 705,014 female) and 520,538 households.[1] There are also 186,835 business premises.[2]
During the 2004 census the following urban centers had been counted:[3]
| City / Town | Population | |
|---|---|---|
| 1,680,552 | ||
| 1,976 | ||
| 1,482 | ||
| 924 |
According to the 2011 census, Montevideo Department has a rural population of 14,026.