A magnetic recording tape comprising a nonmagnetic support and a magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic powder and a binder, wherein the nonmagnetic support has an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.40 to 0.60 dl/g and a number average molecular weight of from 12,000 to 24,000, and a distance between an apex of a maximum convexity and a valley of a maximum concavity of the nonmagnetic support on a cross section of an edge of the tape made by cutting the tape in a transverse direction is 2 μm or less in the transverse direction.