Barangay San Rafael

Classified as a small barangay, Barangay San Rafael is one of the administrative divisions of Donsol in Sorsogon, Bicol Region, Philippines.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay San Rafael had a population of 1,214. This made it the 13th largest of 51 barangays in Donsol by population, placing it in the upper half of the municipality. Residents of Barangay San Rafael accounted for approximately 2.41% of the total population of Donsol, which stood at 50,281 in the same census year.

Between the 2015 and 2020 censuses, the population of Barangay San Rafael changed from 1,240 to 1,214, a shift of -2.1% over the five-year period. This places the barangay among those with contracting populations in Donsol. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay San Rafael as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Donsol is a municipality comprising 51 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay San Rafael, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Sorsogon, which contains 541 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay San Rafael ranks 262nd by 2020 population. Sorsogon is classified as a 2nd by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay San Rafael is led by an elected Punong Barangay (barangay captain) supported by seven Sangguniang Barangay members (kagawads), an SK Chairperson, a Barangay Secretary, and a Barangay Treasurer. The next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, with officials serving four-year terms under Republic Act No. 12232.