Barangay Sta. Maria

Barangay Sta. Maria forms part of Lal-Lo, a municipality in Cagayan, and is classified as a mid-sized barangay.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Sta. Maria had a population of 2,384. This made it the 5th largest of 35 barangays in Lal-Lo by population, placing it in the upper half of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Sta. Maria accounted for approximately 4.89% of the total population of Lal-Lo, which stood at 48,733 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay Sta. Maria moving from 2,247 residents to 2,384 residents, an intercensal change of +6.1%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Sta. Maria as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Lal-Lo is a municipality comprising 35 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Sta. Maria, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Cagayan, which contains 820 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Sta. Maria ranks 137th by 2020 population. Cagayan is classified as a 1st by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Barangay Sta. Maria is governed by an elected Sangguniang Barangay composed of a Punong Barangay and seven kagawads, with the Sangguniang Kabataan representing the youth. The next BSKE, set for Monday, November 2, 2026, will elect officials to four-year terms as provided under Republic Act No. 12232.