Barangay Santa Elena

Situated in Tanauan, Leyte, Barangay Santa Elena is one of 54 barangays that make up the municipality within Eastern Visayas.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Santa Elena had a population of 1,234. This made it the 11th largest of 54 barangays in Tanauan by population, placing it in the upper half of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Santa Elena accounted for approximately 2.15% of the total population of Tanauan, which stood at 57,455 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 1,193 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 1,234 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of +3.4%, consistent with a growing settlement. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Santa Elena as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Tanauan is a municipality comprising 54 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Santa Elena, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Leyte, which contains 1,641 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Santa Elena ranks 470th by 2020 population. Leyte 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 Elena 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.