Swiss voters reject proposal to cap country’s population at 10 million by 2050

Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a proposal that would have capped the country’s population at 10 million until the year 2050.

Approximately 54% of voters cast their ballots against the initiative.

The referendum was also closely monitored in Brussels. A “yes” vote would have set Switzerland on a collision course with the European Union and jeopardized the country’s free movement agreement with the bloc.

Some 60% of Swiss goods are sold to the EU, but this trade is contingent upon mutual agreements.

David McAllister, a German member of the European Parliament and chairman of its Foreign Affairs Committee, said:

“Today, Swiss voters sent a strong signal in favor of reliability, openness, and the continuation of the bilateral path. Switzerland remains committed to its ties with Europe and is ready to address challenges in a pragmatic and cooperative manner.”

The referendum was proposed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, which argued that the measure would help ease pressure on the country’s environment and public services.

The party has a long history of campaigning against immigration.

The “no” campaign focused on how restricting immigration could impact sectors such as healthcare, which rely heavily on foreign workers.

It also highlighted the risks to Switzerland’s relations with the EU and, more broadly, the dangers of isolation in an unstable geopolitical environment.

Switzerland’s current population stands at 9.1 million and is projected to exceed 10 million in the early 2040s.

Approximately 28% of the current Swiss population was born abroad.

With voter turnout reaching 59%, the relatively narrow margin of the vote—with 45% voting in favor of the proposal—is likely to pressure the government to take more coordinated steps to address public concerns over immigration.