Barangay Santa Maria (Pob.)

Situated in Panganiban, Catanduanes, Barangay Santa Maria (Pob.) is one of 23 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 Santa Maria (Pob.) had a population of 286. This made it the 16th largest of 23 barangays in Panganiban by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Santa Maria (Pob.) accounted for approximately 2.94% of the total population of Panganiban, which stood at 9,713 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 309 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 286 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of -7.4%, consistent with a contracting settlement. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Santa Maria (Pob.) as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Panganiban is a municipality comprising 23 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Santa Maria (Pob.), including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Catanduanes, which contains 315 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Santa Maria (Pob.) ranks 284th by 2020 population. Catanduanes is classified as a 3rd 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.