A disposable diaper whose absorber body changes its shape to motion of the wearer for enhanced fitting and wearing comfort, without excessively increased rigidity, includes an absorbent element having an absorber body and a wrapping sheet, and provided on its body side round and oval compressed areas, respectively. The round areas includes first and second compressed areas arranged respectively at intervals in the width and front-back directions, the second areas shifted from the first areas by half the intervals in the width and frond-back directions, the oval areas includes first compressed areas arranged between adjacent first round areas and between adjacent second round areas, with its major axis being aligned to the width direction, and second compressed areas, each arranged between first and second round areas with its major axis being aligned to a line connecting the first and second round areas.

A disposable absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure disposed therebetween. The absorbent core structure includes an upper nonwoven layer comprising polymer fibers and having a basis weight of from about 35 to about 85 gsm; a lower nonwoven layer comprising polymer fibers and having a basis weight of from about 10 to about 40 gsm; and an inner core layer disposed between the upper and lower nonwoven layers. The inner core layer comprises from about 50% to about 85% cellulosic fibers, by weight of the inner core layer, and from about 15% to about 50% superabsorbent particles, by weight of the inner core layer. The absorbent core structure has an average density of between about 0.045 g/cm.sup.3 and about 0.15 g/cm.sup.3. The inner core layer is contained within the nonwoven layers by substantially sealing at least a left and right side region of the upper and lower nonwoven layers.