The magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder, in which the magnetic layer includes an abrasive, the abrasive is a carbide, an average primary particle diameter of the abrasive is 10 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and in an electron microscope image of a surface of the magnetic layer, assuming that a total area occupied by the abrasive is 100%, a ratio of an area occupied by the abrasive present in an aggregated state having a maximum Feret diameter of 0.2 µm or more is 50% or more.