Provided is a magnetic recording medium capable of achieving higher density recording. The magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetic layer formed on a non-magnetic base through vacuum oblique evaporation. The magnetic layer includes a plurality of columns in which 3 to 7 ferromagnetic particles with an average diameter of 5 to 10 nm are arranged in a line, and non-magnetic particles are disposed between columns so as to separate the columns from one another. A value Y/X defined as a ratio of an average value Y of a distance between the centers of adjacent columns in a film in-plane direction to an average value X of a distance between the centers of adjacent columns in a film thickness direction is preferably 0.5 or more.