A magnetic recording medium includes a first magnetic layer; and a second magnetic layer formed on the first magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer make exchange coupling therebetween and also, have their magnetizing direction in anti-parallel to one another. A net residual area magnetization of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer is expressed by the following formula: |Mr1×t1−Mr2×t2| where Mr1 and Mr2 denote respective residual magnetizations of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, and t1 and t2 denote respective film thicknesses of them; and the net area magnetization at a first temperature is larger than the net area magnetization at a second temperature lower than the first temperature.