Azerbaijan is a sovereign state in the South Caucasus region, situated at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to the south. The country's territory includes the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an exclave separated from the mainland by Armenian territory. Azerbaijan’s geography is diverse, with approximately 40% of its landmass covered by the Greater and Lesser Caucasus mountain ranges and the Talysh Mountains. The central part of the country is dominated by the Kura-Aras Lowland, which serves as the primary agricultural and industrial heartland.

The political system of Azerbaijan is a unitary presidential republic. Under the 1995 Constitution, the President serves as the head of state and exercises broad executive powers, including the appointment of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers. The legislative branch is the Milli Mejlis, or National Assembly, a unicameral body consisting of 125 members elected for five-year terms. While the government officially comprises executive, legislative, and judicial branches, the executive maintains significant central authority. Administratively, the country is divided into 66 districts and 11 cities, with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic maintaining its own local parliament and constitution within the national framework.

Baku, the capital and largest city, is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula. It holds the distinction of being the lowest-lying national capital in the world, situated approximately 28 meters below sea level. The city’s history as a major port and industrial hub is tied to its position on the Caspian Sea, which remains the world’s largest inland body of water. Baku’s urban landscape is a mixture of the historical 12th-century "Icherisheher" (Old City) and modern architectural developments. As the economic center of the country, Baku facilitates the majority of Azerbaijan's international trade, particularly in the energy sector, and serves as a critical node in regional transportation networks.