Swiss voters will decide on June 14 whether to cap the country’s population at 10 million by 2050, a proposal driven by immigration concerns and backed by the Swiss People’s Party.
In a country famous for precision watches and carefully managed neutrality, Switzerland is now preparing to count something far more contentious — its people.
On June 14, Swiss voters will decide whether to limit the country’s population to 10 million by 2050. The proposal has been put forward by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) amid concerns over rising immigration and fast population growth.
Switzerland’s population is currently around 9.1 million. If it reaches 9.5 million, the government would have to start taking steps to control further growth. If the number crosses 10 million, authorities would be required to take all possible measures to bring it back below that level, according to Reuters.
Backers of the initiative, launched under the slogan “preserving what we love,” argue that rising numbers are straining housing, infrastructure and wages. The SVP wants the limit written into the constitution, with future caps adjusted annually to account for natural population changes.
If approved, the government would be required to refuse entry to newcomers, including asylum seekers and family members of foreign residents, once the 9.5 million threshold is crossed. It would also be compelled to renegotiate international agreements that drive population growth, including a key accord with the European Union guaranteeing the free movement of people.
The Federal Council has warned the proposal could jeopardize Switzerland’s economic prosperity and destabilize its relationship with the EU, its largest trading partner. Business groups have been blunt. Business association Economiesuisse has labeled it the chaos initiative, arguing that labor migration remains essential to healthcare, construction, hospitality and transport.
“Our country will continue to depend on labor migration in the future,” business associations said in a joint paper with the Swiss Employers Association, cautioning that companies could relocate abroad without access to foreign workers.
Supporters counter that Switzerland’s population has surged from just over 7 million in the mid-1990s to more than 9 million today — one of the fastest growth rates in the region. Much of that rise has been fueled by labor migration tied to the country’s business.
Polls suggest the referendum could be tight. Surveys last year showed narrow pluralities backing the proposal, with nearly half of respondents indicating support and a significant portion still undecided. Analysts say immigration concerns could intensify during the campaign, potentially influencing the final outcome.
A similar immigration proposal passed in 2014 but was never fully implemented, leaving open questions about how a hard population cap would function in practice.
With inputs from Reuters
