The magnetic recording medium includes: a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder, in which a difference Safter−Sbefore between a spacing Safter measured on a surface of the magnetic layer by optical interferometry after ethanol cleaning and a spacing Sbefore measured on the surface of the magnetic layer by optical interferometry before ethanol cleaning is more than 0 nm and 6.0 nm or less, and the non-magnetic support is an aromatic polyester support having a moisture absorption of 0.3% or less.