Barangay Santa Maria

Classified as a small barangay, Barangay Santa Maria is one of the administrative divisions of San Manuel in Tarlac, Central Luzon, Philippines.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Santa Maria had a population of 1,644. This made it the 8th largest of 15 barangays in San Manuel by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Santa Maria accounted for approximately 5.79% of the total population of San Manuel, which stood at 28,387 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay Santa Maria moving from 1,598 residents to 1,644 residents, an intercensal change of +2.9%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Santa Maria as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

San Manuel is a municipality comprising 15 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Santa Maria, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Tarlac, which contains 511 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Santa Maria ranks 320th by 2020 population. Tarlac is classified as a 1st by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay Santa Maria 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.