Magdeburg is the capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The city is located on the Elbe and is one of the three regional centers of the state. With 239,364 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2022), it is the second largest city in Saxony-Anhalt and the fifth largest city in the new federal states. Magdeburg ranked 32nd on the list of major cities in Germany in 2022.

At 1,200 years old, Magdeburg is one of the oldest cities in the eastern German states. The city was first mentioned in documents in 805. On April 20, 1207, the first catastrophe struck the city, with a fire burning down large parts of the city including the Ottonian Cathedral. In the late Middle Ages, it was one of the largest German cities and the center of the Reformation. In May 1631, it was almost completely destroyed during the Thirty Years' War. In 1882, Magdeburg became a major city with over 100,000 inhabitants. During the Second World War, the city was hit hard for the third time. From 1952 to 1990, it was a GDR district town. It has been the state capital since 1990 and celebrated its 1200th anniversary in 2005. Since then, numerous urban development projects have been implemented for reconstruction, monument preservation and new development.

The city's most important historical figures include the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Otto I, and Otto von Guericke. They also serve as the namesake of the city campaign "Ottostadt Magdeburg".

The city at the intersection of the Elbe, Elbe-Havel and Mittelland Canal has an important inland port and is an industrial and commercial center. Of particular economic importance are mechanical and plant engineering, the healthcare industry, environmental technologies, the circular economy, logistics, the cultural and creative industries, the timber industry and information and communication technology.