Number of marriages down 11% on the same time last year
The number of marriages in Scotland is down 11% on the same time last year.
Provisional figures released by the National Records of Scotland show there were 10,310 marriages in the third quarter of 2013 - the lowest third quarter total for at least 40 years.
The number of civil partnerships was also down.
The statistics also show there were 12,223 deaths - 4.2% down on the same period in 2012, and also the lowest third quarter total for 40 years.
Other key findings in the latest births, deaths and other vital events include:
- 14,510 births were registered in Scotland between 1 July and 30 September 2013 - 1.2% fewer than in the same period in 2012. This is the lowest third quarter total since 2006 but 5.5% higher than the third quarter of 2003
- There were 194 civil partnerships (87 male and 107 female), 12 fewer than during the third quarter of 2012
- Compared with the same period in 2012, the number of deaths from cancer fell by 2.8% to 3,827, deaths from coronary heart disease fell by 11.6% to 1,585, and there were 982 deaths from stroke (a rise of 0.3%).
Figures for each NHS board and local authority are available from National Records of Scotland.
In recent years the annual number of deaths has fallen to below 55,000, compared with about 60,000 - 65,000 from the 1940s to the 1990s, and higher numbers before that period.
Tim Ellis, chief executive of the National Records of Scotland, said: "Today's statistics show a fall in the number of deaths registered in Scotland, to the lowest number recorded in the third quarter for at least 40 years.
"However, taking the first three quarters of the year together, there were slightly more deaths than in the same period of 2012.
"The number of births also fell, continuing the trend of gradual decline since 2008. Levels of births and deaths are both relatively low in historical terms and since 2008 there have generally been more births than deaths."