Barbados is an independent island nation in the western Atlantic Ocean, just to the east of the Caribbean Sea. Located fairly close to South America northeast of Venezuela. The closest island neighbours to Barbados are Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the west, Trinidad and Tobago to the south, and Grenada to the south-west. Barbados is part of the Lesser Antilles. Barbados has one of the highest standards of living and literacy rates in the developing world and, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), it is currently the fourth most developed of all developing countries in the world. Barbados constantly ranks in the top 30 (or 31) countries in the HDI (Human Development Index) rankings. It is currently ranked third in North America. The island is also a major tourist destination.