Bulgaria has overcome the consequences of the economic crisis, but this is due to the rapid growth of just 9 regions, while in the remaining 19 regions the actual GDP is still lower in comparison to 2008. Regional disparities are growing and deepening, while the absorption of EU funds has not achieved its main goal - bringing regions in the country closer to each other in terms of economic development as well as shortening the distance to the level of prosperity in Europe. The differences are especially pronounced in the labor market and the education system. These are some of the findings in the fifth annual study "Regional Profiles: Development Indicators 2016" prepared by the Institute for Market Economics.