Yemenis are among the most smoking nations, according to a field study released on Thursday.

Yemenis spend YR 21.3 billion in buying cigarettes as this figure is considered high when compared with nations.

They smoke 6.4 billion cigarettes per year, which is equal to 317 million boxes per year and 870,000 boxes per day.

According to the study, there are 3.4 million smokers in all Yemeni provinces, of whom 29 percent are of age group 17-24. The total area planted with tobacco in the country has doubled.

There are two major companies producing cigarettes in Yemen including Rothman Company affiliated with Hayel Saeed Anam Group of Companies which produces one of the most expensive and consumed cigars and Kamran Company, owned by both the public and private sector.

The government issued a law that bans smoking in public places; however, people have not committed themselves to it. Most smokers mix smoking with the daily practice of Qat as they add one negative to the other.