The
magnetic tape has a nonmagnetic layer containing nonmagnetic
powder and binder on a nonmagnetic support and a
magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic
powder and binder on the nonmagnetic layer, wherein a
fatty acid ester is contained in at least the
magnetic layer, the ferromagnetic
powder is ferromagnetic
hexagonal ferrite powder, the ferromagnetic
hexagonal ferrite powder has a
crystallite volume as determined by X-
ray diffraction analysis ranges from 1,000 nm3 to 2,400 nm3, and a ratio of the
crystallite size Dx(107) obtained from a
diffraction peak of a (107) plane to a particle size in a direction of an easy axis of
magnetization DTEM as determined by observation with a transmission
electron microscope, Dx(107) / DTEM, is greater than or equal to 1.1, and ΔSFD in a longitudinal direction of the
magnetic tape as calculated with Equation 1: ΔSFD=SFD25° C.−SFD−190° C., ranges from 0.50 to 1.60.