A magnetic recording medium containing a support having provided thereon a lower layer containing a nonmagnetic powder and a binder and further provided thereon at least one magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder and a binder. The lower layer can contain as a binder at least a monomer unit containing from 5 to 45% by weight of a (meth)acrylate unit containing a benzene ring and from 1 to 45% by weight of a radical polymerizable monomer unit containing a nitrogen atom, with these units making a total amount of 100% by weight. It can also contain an acrylic resin having a hydrophilic polar group. The magnetic recording medium may also contain a support having provided thereon at least one magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder and a binder each in the dispersed state. The magnetic layer can contain at least a monomer unit comprising from 15 to 75% by weight of an alkyl (meth)acrylate as a binder and from 1 to 45% by weight of a radical polymerizable monomer unit containing nitrogen, with these units making a total amount of 100% by weight. It can also contain an acrylic resin having a hydrophilic polar group used in combination with a resin (A) defined herein; a resin (B) defined herein; or a resin (C) defined herein.