A thin-film magnetic head is provided with an antiferromagnetic layer; a pinned layer comprising a first ferromagnetic layer, in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer having a direction of magnetization opposite from that of the first ferromagnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer disposed between the first and second ferromagnetic layers; a free layer; and an intermediate layer disposed between the pinned layer and the free layer. The first ferromagnetic layer of the pinned layer is provided with a first layer comprising a ferromagnetic material, and a second layer, disposed between the first layer and the nonmagnetic spacer layer, comprising a ferromagnetic material. The first layer has a bulk scattering coefficient lower than that of the second layer.