Swiss voters appear to reject proposal to cap population at 10 million
Summary
Swiss voters rejected a proposal to limit the country's population to 10 million by 2050. The proposal, led by the Swiss People’s Party, would have imposed strict limits on immigration and ended Switzerland’s free movement agreement with the European Union if the population grew too large.Key Facts
- About 55% of Swiss voters opposed the population cap proposal, while 45% supported it.
- The current population of Switzerland is 9.1 million.
- If passed, the population would have been capped at 10 million by 2050, with strict rules on family reunification, residency permits, and asylum.
- Exceeding the population limit would have forced Switzerland to leave its free movement agreement with the EU, ending access to the EU single market.
- The Swiss People’s Party, which proposed the measure, is known for its anti-immigrant stance and holds the most seats in parliament.
- Switzerland’s population grew by 23% since 2002, faster than nearby EU countries.
- The Swiss government and business groups opposed the proposal, warning it would harm the economy and relations with the EU.
- Swiss voters worried the proposal could reduce access to needed foreign workers, affect healthcare, and hurt Switzerland’s international standing.
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