Swiss Voters Reject Initiative to Cap Population at 10 Million

Swiss voters have cast their final ballots on Sunday on a right-wing initiative aimed at capping the country’s population at 10 million, with early results indicating the proposal has been rejected.

Preliminary figures released by the federal government showed nearly 53 per cent of voters opposed the measure, while nationwide turnout exceeded 57 per cent. Results were still pending from several of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, as cited by AP.

In Geneva, Switzerland’s second-largest city and a major centre for UN agencies and humanitarian organisations, early results showed around two-thirds of voters rejecting the measure.

The initiative was backed by the populist Swiss People’s Party, which holds the most seats in parliament and has long campaigned on concerns over immigration, particularly the influx of workers from neighbouring European Union countries.

Some have described the proposal as a “Swiss Brexit” because it could put at risk Switzerland’s close ties with the European Union, which are based on agreements supporting economic growth, cultural links and cross-border movement.

Switzerland is not an EU member state, but it is almost entirely surrounded by four EU countries.

Switzerland’s population has risen by nearly a quarter over the past generation, while foreign nationals now account for close to one-third of the country’s total population.

The right-wing party put forward the “sustainability initiative,” arguing that Switzerland’s infrastructure, housing, social services, natural resources and way of life have come under pressure from rapid population growth.

The federal government, Parliament, and the business association EconomieSuisse have opposed the proposal.

Swiss democracy allows citizens a direct role in policymaking through referendums, which are typically held four times a year. Most ballots are cast by mail, while in-person voting closes at noon local time on Sunday.

Under the proposal, a “yes” vote would require the Swiss government to implement measures to cap the population by 2050. If the population reaches 9.5 million before that deadline, authorities would be obliged to restrict asylum, family reunification and residency permits, and could be required to terminate Switzerland’s agreement with the European Union on the free movement of people.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has reported that Switzerland’s foreign-born population stood at 32% in 2024, ranking behind only Luxembourg and Australia among its 38 member countries.