Barangay Santa Maria

Barangay Santa Maria forms part of Sogod, a municipality in Southern Leyte, and is classified as a very small barangay.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Santa Maria had a population of 200. This made it the 41st largest of 45 barangays in Sogod by population, placing it among the smaller barangays of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Santa Maria accounted for approximately 0.42% of the total population of Sogod, which stood at 47,552 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 217 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 200 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of -7.8%, consistent with a contracting settlement. 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.

Sogod is a municipality comprising 45 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 Southern Leyte, which contains 500 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Santa Maria ranks 477th by 2020 population. Southern Leyte is classified as a 3rd 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.