Barangay Santa Emelia

Barangay Santa Emelia forms part of Veruela, a municipality in Agusan Del Sur, and is classified as a small barangay.

According to the 2020 Philippine census, Barangay Santa Emelia had a population of 1,216. This made it the 10th largest of 20 barangays in Veruela by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Santa Emelia accounted for approximately 3.06% of the total population of Veruela, which stood at 39,708 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 1,483 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 1,216 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of -18.0%, consistent with a contracting settlement. Barangay Santa Emelia is officially classified as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Veruela is a municipality comprising 20 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Santa Emelia, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Agusan Del Sur, which contains 314 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Santa Emelia ranks 208th by 2020 population. Agusan Del Sur 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.