Barangay San Rafael

Barangay San Rafael is a small barangay in the municipality of Santa Magdalena, located in the province of Sorsogon, in the Bicol Region region of the Philippines.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay San Rafael had a population of 1,336. This made it the 5th largest of 14 barangays in Santa Magdalena by population, placing it in the upper half of the municipality. Residents of Barangay San Rafael accounted for approximately 7.81% of the total population of Santa Magdalena, which stood at 17,096 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay San Rafael moving from 1,204 residents to 1,336 residents, an intercensal change of +11.0%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay San Rafael as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Santa Magdalena is a municipality comprising 14 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay San Rafael, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Sorsogon, which contains 541 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay San Rafael ranks 232nd by 2020 population. Sorsogon is classified as a 2nd by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Barangay San Rafael 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.