Switzerland votes on proposal to cap population at 10 million

Switzerland is set to vote on a proposal that would limit population growth to 10 million and tighten immigration rules if approved. The referendum takes place on Sunday, June 14, 2026, after the country’s population rose by about 10% over the past decade to just over 9.1 million at the end of 2025. Under the plan, the government would need to introduce measures to slow population growth by 2050. If the population passed 9.5 million, immigration rules would become stricter, with asylum and family reunification programs among the first areas that could be reduced. The proposal could also affect Switzerland’s free movement agreement with the European Union if the 10 million threshold is exceeded. The initiative is backed by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, which says growth has strained housing, public services, wages and schools. Business leaders and industry groups have warned that tighter immigration limits could hurt Switzerland’s economy by making it harder to recruit skilled workers and by weakening ties with the EU, the country’s main trading partner. A recent poll showed 52% of voters opposed the cap, while 45% supported it.