A vertical magnetic recording disc (100) includes a base (10), a magnetic recording layer (22), and a medium protection layer (26). The magnetic recording layer (22) is a ferromagnetic layer having a granular structure where a granular portion is formed. The medium protection layer (26) contains nitrogen (N) atoms and carbon (C) atoms with a number ratio (N/C) in a range from 0.050 to 0.150. In a Raman spectrum obtained by exciting the medium protection layer (26) by argon ion laser light of wavelength 514.5 nm, from which a fluorescence is removed, the peak ratio Dh/Gh is in a range from 0.70 to 0.95, when a D peak Dh appearing in the vicinity of 1350 cm.sup.-1 is separated from G peak Gh appearing in the vicinity of 1520 cm.sup.-1 by the Gauss function.