London, Feb 22(IRNA)
The number of marriages in England and Wales fell to a record low in 2005 after plunging by a further percent on the previous year, according to the latest official figures.

The Office for National Statistics reported that the number of marriages dropped to only 244,710, the lowest level since 1986, when the UK's population was half the present 60 million total.

It also revealed that the proportion of the population getting married was the least since rates were first calculated back in 1862.

The figures also showed a continuation in the rise in age of first marriages to an average of 31.7 years old for men and 29.5 year old for women, four years older than in 1991.

Another trend was in the fall in the number of civil marriage ceremonies, which dropped by 13 percent in 2005, cutting the share of non-religious wedding from 68 percent to 65 percent.

The number of marriages in England and Wales has been on the decline since the 1980s in response to social changes defying religious teachings.

Statisticians suggested that the further drop could be partly explained by legal changes in 2005 making it more difficult for foreign nationals to marry in an attempt to tackle the problem of 'sham marriages' aimed to gain British nationality.