Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable outer material, a liquid retentive absorbent article and a liquid-impermeable antileakage material, and formed in a substantially vertically elongated shape, wherein the absorbent element comprises a diffusing absorbent sheet and an absorbent retentive sheet positioned at the rear of the diffusing absorbent sheet and:(a) the diffusing absorbent sheet is a sheet having a hydrophilicity (cos .theta.) of 0.5 to 1 and a Klemm absorption velocity in the longitudinal direction of at least 40 mm/minute, and(b) the absorbent retentive sheet is a sheet comprising an aggregate of fibers having a capillary osmotic pressure of 4000 to 15000 dyne/cm.sup.2 and containing 10 to 100% by weight, based on the fiber aggregate, of a highly water-absorbent polymer having a physiological saline absorption of 40 to 70 g/g and a physiological saline absorption velocity of at least 2 ml/0.3 grams polymer.multidot.minute.