Swiss voters have decisively rejected a proposal to limit the country’s population to 10 million, according to preliminary results from the national broadcaster SRF. Approximately 55% of voters opposed the initiative, which was backed by the Swiss People’s Party, while around 45% supported it.
The referendum, which drew comparisons to the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom in 2016, raised concerns among businesses about potential disruptions to the free movement of labor between Switzerland and the European Union, its primary trading partner. The proposal stipulated that if the population exceeded 10 million by 2050, Switzerland would need to terminate its agreement on free movement with the EU.
Urs Biery, a sociologist from GFS Bern, commented that the initiative failed to gain traction because, despite public concerns regarding population growth, many voters were not convinced by the proposed plan and feared its unintended consequences. “From the outset, it was framed as a chaotic initiative. Voters were apprehensive about the negative impacts on Switzerland’s relations with the EU and the labor market,” Biery stated.
He added that there are also worries about the adequacy of healthcare and care sector workers, emphasizing that in the current international climate, such a move would be unwise for a small country.
Prior to the referendum, the European Commission warned Bern that the outcome could influence its relationship 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, around 64% of the approximately two million newcomers are EU citizens.
The Swiss government had urged citizens to vote against the proposal, arguing that it would harm cooperation with the European Union and negatively impact the economy by restricting the labor market.
In a recent referendum, Swiss voters rejected a proposal to cap the population at 10 million, prioritizing economic stability and EU relations over immigration concerns. The initiative faced opposition due to fears of its potential impact on labor markets and international relations.