An optical recording medium includes: a substrate having a first principal surface and a second principal surface; one or plural information signal layers formed on the first principal surface of the substrate for undergoing recording or reproduction of information signals upon irradiation with light; and a barrier layer formed on the second principal surface of the substrate for suppressing the gas release from the second principal surface of the substrate, wherein an area of a region exposing from the barrier layer of the second principal surface of the substrate is not more than 688 mm2.