A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic seed layer, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer provided on the nonmagnetic seed layer, and a perpendicular recording layer provided on the nonmagnetic intermediate layer. The nonmagnetic seed layer includes a first seed layer made of a Ni alloy having a fcc structure, and a second seed layer provided between the first seed layer and the nonmagnetic intermediate layer and made of a Ni alloy having a fcc structure. A content of one or more elements other than Ni within the Ni alloy forming the second seed layer and having a Goldschmidt radius greater than that of Ni is larger than a content of one or more elements other than Ni within the Ni alloy forming the first seed layer and having a Goldschmidt radius greater than that of Ni.