An information recording medium having recording, reproducing, and rewriting characteristics better than those of prior art media. The media has a recording layer made of a material represented by the following formula: Gex−wSbyTezMw, wherein 0.13≦x≦0.22, 0.20≦y≦0.32, 0.53≦z≦0.60, 0≦w≦0.06, x+y+z=1, and M is any one of Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, L, Ca, Sc, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ru, Rh, Cd, In, Sn, I, Cs, Ba, La, Hf, Ta, Re, Os, Ir, Hg, Tl, Pb, Th, U, Ag, Cr, W, Mo, Pt, Co, Ni, Pd, Si, Au, Cu, V, Mn, Fe, Ti and Bi.