Absorbent article having a breathable backsheet

A disposable absorbent article having a front waist region, a rear waist region, a crotch region positioned between the front waist region and the rear waist region, a pair of opposed side edges, a first end edge located in said front waist region and a second end edge located in said rear waist region, said absorbent article comprising:

• an absorbent core having a pair of opposing longitudinal edges, a garment-facing side and a body-facing side;
• and
• a breathable laminate disposed adjacent said garment-facing side of said absorbent core, said breathable laminate comprising an inner layer and an outer layer joined to one another, said inner layer being positioned between said absorbent core and said outer layer, said outer layer comprising a relatively vapor pervious nonwoven web, said inner layer comprising a liquid, vapor, and air impermeable polymeric material, said breathable laminate having a garment-facing side, a body-facing side, a central region and two outer regions, said central region being juxtaposed said garment-facing side of said absorbent core, said outer regions extending continuously laterally outwardly from said central region beyond said longitudinal edges of said absorbent core and continuously longitudinally from said end edge located in said front end region through said crotch region to said second end edge located in said rear waist region, said central region comprising said inner layer and said outer layer, said outer region comprising said outer layer, said outer regions having a mass vapor transmission rate of at least about 2500 g/m.sup.2 /24 hr, said mass vapor transmission rate of said outer regions being greater than the mass vapor transmission rate of said central region.