Barbados

thumb|300px|right|The flag and national anthem of Barbados.
Barbados (pronounced /bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz, bɑrˈbeɪdɒs/), situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent West Indian Continental Island-nation in the western Atlantic Ocean. For over three centuries Barbados was under British rule and maintains Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. Located at roughly 13° North of the equator and 59° West of the prime meridian, it is considered a part of the Lesser Antilles. Its closest island neighbours are Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia to the west. To the south lies Trinidad and Tobago—with which Barbados now shares a fixed official maritime boundary—and also the South American mainland. Barbados's total land area is about 430 square kilometres (166 square miles), and is primarily low-lying, with some higher in the country's interior. The highest point in Barbados is Mount Hillaby in the parish of Saint Andrew.
==Religion in Barbados==
The majority of Barbadians of European and African descent are Christians, making up 95% of the population. The Church of England was the official state religion of Barbados before independence and 405 of the country's people continue to follow Anglicanism. Other Christian denominations with a presence in Barbados include the Roman Catholic Church, Spiritual Baptists and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Jews have lived in Barbados since 1654 when Sephardi Jews arrived from Dutch Brazil. However, most people who practice Judaism in Barbados today are descendants of Ashkenazi Jews from Europe who arrived as refugees in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Other minority religions in Barbados include Hinduism, Islam and the Baha'i Faith. About 0.15% of the people of Barbados are Buddhists.
==References==
*http://www.thedhamma.com/buddhists_in_the_world.htm
*The Complete Book of Buddha's Lists -- Explained. David N. Snyder, Ph.D., 2006.
*http://www.thedhamma.com/
==External links==
* Wikipedia article about Barbados.
* Wikivoyage article about Barbados.
Category:Buddhism by location
Category:Christian-Majority Countries
Category:Americas
Category:Barbados