A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic support, at least one primer layer formed on one surface of the non-magnetic support, a
magnetic layer formed on the primer layer, and a backcoat layer formed on the other surface of the non-magnetic support, wherein the
magnetic layer has a thickness of 0.30 μm or less and a centerline average
surface roughness Ra of 3.2 nm or less, and (P1−P0) is 30 nm or less and (P1-P20) is 5 nm or less in which P0 is an averaged height of projections of the
magnetic layer, and P1, P2, - - - and P20 are heights of the highest, the second highest, - - - and the 20th highest projections of the magnetic layer, respectively.