Barangay Tarum

Situated in Mercedes, Camarines Norte, Barangay Tarum is one of 26 barangays that make up the municipality within Bicol Region.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Tarum had a population of 1,630. This made it the 15th largest of 26 barangays in Mercedes by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Tarum accounted for approximately 2.95% of the total population of Mercedes, which stood at 55,334 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 1,445 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 1,630 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of +12.8%, consistent with a growing settlement. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Tarum as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Mercedes is a municipality comprising 26 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Tarum, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Camarines Norte, which contains 282 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Tarum ranks 155th by 2020 population. Camarines Norte is classified as a 2nd by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

The barangay's legislative and executive affairs are handled by a Punong Barangay and the Sangguniang Barangay, elected nationwide during the Barangay and SK Elections. The next BSKE is scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, following the synchronized election schedule set by COMELEC Resolution No. 11191.