An absorbent core (28) for absorbent articles (20) such as diapers. The core comprises a core wrap (16, 16) comprising a top side (288) and a bottom side (290), an absorbent material (60) between the top side and the bottom side, a first and second longitudinally-extending channel-forming areas (26a, b) disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis (80) and substantially free of absorbent material preferably through which the top side of the core wrap is attached to the bottom side of the core wrap. The core has a central absorbent zone (62) between the first and the second channel-forming areas and a first and second lateral absorbent zones (61, 63) disposed laterally outwardly. The average basis weight of the absorbent material in the central absorbent zone is lower than the average basis weight of the absorbent material in the lateral absorbent zones.
