Demographers are referring to the Second Demographic Transition, where the increase in divorce in the 1960’s and the trend for people to marry or remarry later in life has increased the potential for wider martial age gaps.

According to 2006 Census data, roughly one-third of husbands are at least four years older than their wives.

And a Stanford University report says, ‘the older a man is when he marries after 40, the greater the likelihood that his bride will be significantly younger - whether that man is wealthy or not.’

Experts say the male ideal of beauty is typically a woman in her early 20’s and this ideal remains as men grow older.