Barangay San Rafael West

Classified as a small barangay, Barangay San Rafael West is one of the administrative divisions of San Nicolas in Pangasinan, Ilocos Region, Philippines.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay San Rafael West had a population of 1,662. This made it the 6th largest of 33 barangays in San Nicolas by population, placing it in the upper half of the municipality. Residents of Barangay San Rafael West accounted for approximately 4.18% of the total population of San Nicolas, which stood at 39,778 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay San Rafael West moving from 1,510 residents to 1,662 residents, an intercensal change of +10.1%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay San Rafael West as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

San Nicolas is a municipality comprising 33 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay San Rafael West, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Pangasinan, which contains 1,364 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay San Rafael West ranks 805th by 2020 population. Pangasinan is classified as a 1st 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.