The cold winter saw 31,100 excess deaths in 2012/13 compared with 24,200 the previous year - a rise of 29%, figures show.
The majority of the deaths in England and Wales were among the elderly with over-75s accounting for 25,600, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The sharp increase came in a bitterly cold start to the year - with the coldest March since 1962, which saw an average monthly temperature of just 2.6C (36.7).
There were 18,000 winter-related female deaths, a rise from 13,610 the previous year. The number of excess male deaths was 13,100 - up from 10,590 in 2011/12.
The figures have been released amid warnings from senior doctors that A&E departments are to face their worse winter ever and concerns that pensioners and vulnerable families are being forced to choose between "heating and eating".
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced plans to make sure the NHS is fully prepared for winter with a £250m boost which will mean the equivalent of nearly 3,000 extra staff.
This consists of temporary staff, extended hours of existing staff and new positions, and almost 2,500 extra beds will be made available across England.
The ONS report claims that the cold winter coupled with a peak in flu illnesses over the Christmas period helped to drive the excess deaths.
The report stated: "Winter 2012/13 was characterised by a milder than average December, followed by a prolonged period of lower than average temperatures.
"The number of deaths peaked in the first week of January, which coincided with a peak in rates of influenza-like illness over the Christmas weeks. The mean number of daily deaths was higher than average for a prolonged period between February and April 2013."
The ONS said excess winter mortality for 2012/13 was highest in the North West of England and lowest in London.
This bucks the trend of the previous year when the highest excess winter death rates were observed in the capital.
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