are bucking the trend, with the marriage rate among women aged over 65 rising by a third over the past decade

The number of marriages tumbled in 2013 because couples were worried that the year was jinxed, official figures have shown.

Fewer people tied the knot for the first time in four years and the number of religious weddings dropped significantly.

But the figures for marriages in England and Wales show that pensioners are bucking the trend, with a steady increase in the marriage rate among those aged over 65.

The number of marriages tumbled in 2013 because couples were worried that the year was jinxed, official figures have shown

This trend is driven in particular by female pensioners, with the marriage rate among women aged over 65 rising by a third over the last decade.

The latest published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) covers marriages that took place in 2013.

Statisticians said the fall in the number of marriages could be due to couples choosing to postpone their marriage to avoid the number 13 – perceived as unlucky by many different cultures.

The average age at marriage increased slightly for men and women. The average age was 36.7 years for men – up from 36.5 in 2012 and for women it was 34.3 years – up from 34 in 2012.

The average age at marriage increased slightly for men and women. The average age was 36.7 years for men – up from 36.5 in 2012 and for women it was 34.3 years – up from 34 in 2012

ONS statistician Elizabeth McLaren said: 'The fall could indicate the continuation of the long-term decline in marriages since 1972 or could be due to couples choosing to postpone their marriage to avoid the number 13 which is perceived as unlucky by many cultures.'

She added: 'When you have the freedom to choose there are probably certain dates you might avoid, like Friday 13th and that sort of thing.

'It is going to be interesting to see whether this is part of a long-term decline or if it will change again.'

The number of religious ceremonies fell by 14 per cent compared to 2012 - continuing the downward trend since 1990, while civil ceremonies fell by 6 per cent compared with 2012.

The ONS figures show there were 240,854 marriages in 2013 - a fall in 8.6 per cent compared with 2012.

The decline ended the steady rise in marriages between the recent low in 2009 of 232,443 and a peak in 2012.

The number of women over the age of 65 tying the knot rose by 33 per cent over the last decade, but the marriage rate among men over 65 was just 2 per cent over the same period.

The number of people tying the knot fell for the first time in four years, with civil ceremonies making up more than seven in ten marriages

The number of marriages for brides and grooms: The average age was 36.7 years for men – up from 36.5 in 2012 and for women it was 34.3 years – up from 34 in 2012

Holly Tootill, a family lawyer with JMW Solicitors, said the difference in attitudes of pension-age men and women revealed a stark contrast in how the two groups viewed marriage.

'What we're looking at is a considerable variation over the course of the last decade in how men and women over the age of 65 regard marriage,' she told MailOnline.

'I believe that that may well be as a result of growing numbers of individuals of that age getting divorced.

'The figures show that there are fewer middle-aged divorced men choosing to remarry.

'However, whereas they might simply not want the prospect of a second divorce, many divorced women will still be less financially independent, chiefly because they were of the generation of women who were housewives rather than pursuing a career.

'There also appears to be an increase in women outliving their partners and, therefore, their fondness for marriage may be born of a simple desire not to spend their remaining years alone.'

Harry Benson, research director at the Marriage Foundation think-tank, blamed the decline in marriages on government policy.

He said: 'The latest statistics show marriage rates fell dramatically in 2013. It is a damning indictment of a supposedly pro-marriage Government.

'Despite all their rhetoric of wanting to help promote family stability and improve outcomes for children, they have failed to tackle the disincentive to marriage in the tax system.

'So far this Government has brought in a token married couples tax allowance, worth a paltry £200 a year. It's no wonder that that has done nothing to counter the £7,000 tax penalty on couples who move in together.

'The reluctance of our Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb to champion marriage when he himself benefits from the stability the institution provides is surprising.

'It is irrefutable that marriage benefits families hugely and children in particular. Evidence shows that child outcomes are worse in lone-parent and non-married families because of the devastating effect of family breakdown.