PURPOSE: To suppress the intensity of a magnetic field to a lower level and to reduce the size of the recording medium by adding Ge and/or Sr as an additive element to a recording layer which contains Tb, Dy and Co at the specific values of the contents expressed by atomic % and consists of the balance Fe.

CONSTITUTION: This magneto-optical recording medium 1 has a protective layer 3, an intermediate layer 4, a recording layer 5, a protective layer 6, and a protective coat 7 successively on a substrate 2. The contents of the Tb, Dy, Co in the compsn. of the recording layer 5 are specified to the values expressed by the formula, by which the C/N is improved and the reliability is improved. The sensitivity change at and under a high temp. and high humidity is prevented by adding the Ge and/or Sr at 1W20at.% content as the additive element to the recording layer constituted in such a manner. A recording method of a magnetic field modulation type to execute recording by impressing the modulated magnetic field to the magneto-optical recording medium obtd. in such a manner under irradiation of light is possible with such recording medium. The intensity of the magnetic field to be impressed to this medium is suppressed to the lower level and the reduction of the size of the recording and reproducing device by using a coil of small inductance is possible.