Proponents of the initiative argued that Switzerland “doesn’t stretch,” blaming mass immigration for causing overcrowding
Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to cap the population as concerns over economic damage trumped immigration fears in what some called the country’s Brexit moment.
The proposal, put to a referendum on Sunday, aimed to limit Switzerland’s population to 10 million by 2050. According to government figures, 55% of those taking part rejected the initiative, with 45% voting in favor.
The right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), a longtime critic of mass immigration and close ties with the EU, launched the referendum. If passed, the government would have guaranteed that permanent residency – now about 9.1 million – stays below the threshold. Approaching the limit would have forced Bern to scrap its free-movement pact with the EU. Although not a member of the EU, Switzerland has maintained a free-movement agreement with the bloc since 2002.
The vote capped months of campaigning in which right-wing groups argued that Switzerland’s rapidly growing population is causing overcrowding and straining resources. The SVP insists drastic measures are needed, blaming “mass immigration” for housing shortages, rising rents, packed trains and traffic jams.
“Switzerland is a small country — it doesn’t stretch,” SVP lawmaker Yvan Pahud argued before the vote. “We don’t want to take in all of Europe or all the world’s troubles.”
According to Avenir Suisse data, foreigners now account for more about 27% of Switzerland’s population, which surpassed 9 million two years ago, driven by immigration that outpaced declining birth rates.
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Prior to the vote, prominent executives including from Nestle, Roche and UBS warned that imposing a fixed upper limit on residents – an unprecedented move in a modern economy – would restrict access to foreign labor and hurt business and investment. The government and a majority of lawmakers also opposed the proposal.
The development comes as the EU moves forward with its biggest migration overhaul in years, introducing mandatory border screening, accelerated asylum procedures, expanded biometric registration, and faster returns of rejected asylum seekers. A recent study shows the bloc’s migrant population reached a record 64.2 million in 2025, including 46.7 million people born outside the EU.
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