A study conducted among 2,000 people across the United Kingdom has revealed some interesting figures around which numbers Brits consider lucky.

Surprisingly, 13, which is traditionally considered unlucky around the world, is viewed as a fortunate figure among many who participated in the survey.

The numbers 2, 4 and 6 were also right up there in terms of which digits are considered lucky. And 42 - made famous in the novel series, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - was also a popular choice.

Seven comes up trumps

But the leaders of the pack were 5 and 7. The latter ultimately came out on top. 

"It's interesting to see how seven has come out as the luckiest number for Brits. It is often considered lucky because it shows up so much in the order of things - seven days in a week, seven colours of the rainbow, seven wonders of the world, seven notes on a musical scale - and so on," said a Lottoland.co.uk spokesperson.

"Numbers have a strange power. They're part of almost everything we do, from marking the days and years to telling us how much money we’ve got in the bank. So, it's no wonder they've been given this enormous weight of importance in the national psyche. We know only too well that the right numbers can have a significant impact on our lives."

Lucky number selections

Some of the luckiest lottery numbers are derived from people's attachment to and association with what they deem to be fortunate figures. Many pick their lottery numbers based on landmarks in their lives such as birthdays, anniversaries and other landmarks.

For example, a person who was born on the fourth day of the ninth month might include 4 and 9 in their selection. This could continue with their year of birth. For instance, 1944 could be split into 19 and 44.

There are, of course, no guarantees that numbers selected manually or automatically will bring victory. 

"A large proportion of us believe that numbers can bring you luck in life. Although it comes as no surprise that so many of those surveyed have looked to special and memorable dates for their lucky numbers," added the spokesperson.

Hot and cold

Number selections might not be based on significant dates and milestones alone, though. There are also hot and cold numbers to consider. These are numbers that have or have not been drawn for a certain period of time. Hot numbers are those that have been more frequently drawn than others. Cold numbers are those that could be perceived as due to be drawn. Again, there are no guarantees here, but people do factor hot and cold numbers into their selections. 

Some might opt for a straight set of hot or cold number - or a mix - and others might go for a hybrid of hot/cold number and their own digits based on important dates. And, with this recent study, some might be selecting 5, 7 and other popular single-figure options more so than in the past.