The invention relates to an absorbent article (1) having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a thickness direction, and comprising a fluid permeable topsheet (2), a fluid impermeable backsheet (3) and an absorbent core (4) enclosed between the topsheet (2) and the backsheet (3) having, in the longitudinal direction, a front section (8), a rear section (9) and a crotch section (10) between the front section (8) and the rear section (9), the absorbent core (4) having two longitudinally extending side regions (4b, 4c) being spaced apart in the transversal direction by at least one longitudinally extending channel region (4a). The channel region (4a) is of less basis weight than the side regions (4b, 4c). The invention also relates to an absorbent core (4) and a method for manufacturing said absorbent article (1).
