A heat-sensitive recording material comprising a support having provided thereon a heat-sensitive recording layer, the heat-sensitive recording layer containing a diazo compound encapsulated in microcapsules and a component capable of undergoing a color forming reaction with said diazo compound, wherein a protective coating layer containing as a binder a modified polyvinyl alcohol containing silicon atoms, and at least one of colloidal silica and amorphous silica is applied on the surface of the heat-sensitive recording layer.