Switzerland Rejects Proposal to Cap Population at 10 Million in Referendum
Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to limit the country's population to 10 million, with initial projections showing about 55% voting against and 45% in favor.
Switzerland voted on Sunday in a referendum that, according to projections, rejected a proposal to cap the country's population at 10 million. Voters prioritized economic stability and relations with the European Union over immigration restrictions.
Preliminary estimates published by the national broadcaster SRF indicate that approximately 45% of voters supported the proposal, while 55% opposed it.
The referendum, which drew comparisons to the 2016 Brexit vote in the United Kingdom, raised concerns among businesses who feared it could end the free movement of labor between Switzerland and the EU, its main trading partner.
The proposal, championed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), stipulated that the population should not exceed 10 million by 2050, and if that threshold were breached within two years, Switzerland would have to scrap the free movement agreement with the EU.
Urs Bieri from the polling firm GFS Bern noted that the initiative failed because, although many people are worried about population growth, they were not convinced by the plan itself and feared possible side effects. "From the very beginning, it was presented as an initiative of chaos. Voters feared negative consequences for Switzerland's relations with the EU and for the labor market," he said.
Bieri added that people also worry about issues such as having enough care and healthcare workers. "There is also a feeling that in the current international conditions, it is unwise for a small country," he said.
The European Commission had previously warned Bern that the outcome of the referendum would affect relations with Brussels. Switzerland's population has grown from 7.2 million in the early 2000s to just over 9 million in 2026. According to the think tank Avenir Suisse, about 64% of the approximately two million newcomers are EU citizens.
The proposal to limit the population to 10 million was put forward by the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP). The Swiss government urged citizens to vote against the proposal, arguing that the initiative would harm cooperation with the EU and the economy due to labor market restrictions.
