Provided is a magnetic tape, which comprises, on a nonmagnetic support, a nonmagnetic layer comprising nonmagnetic powder and binder, and on the nonmagnetic layer, a magnetic layer comprising ferromagnetic powder and binder; wherein at least the magnetic layer comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid and a fatty acid amide; a quantity of components selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid and a fatty acid amide per unit area of the magnetic tape among components that are extracted from a surface on the magnetic layer side of the magnetic tape is less than or equal to 15.0 mg/m2, and a concentration of carbon, C, that is obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy conducted at a photoelectron take-off angle of 10 degrees on the surface on the magnetic layer side of the magnetic tape is greater than or equal to 50 atom %.