Poll to restrict Switzerland's population to 10 million gets split vote

Swiss vote evenly to restrict Switzerland's population to 10 million

Mohan Sinha
09 May 2026, 20:28 GMT+10

An opinion poll on May 8 showed that Swiss voters are split down the middle on backing a referendum proposal to restrict Switzerland's population to 10 million.
The proposal says Switzerland’s population should not go above 10 million before 2050 and suggests ending the agreement that allows people to move freely between Switzerland and the EU.
Support for the proposal is driven by worries about fast population growth and pressure on public services. However, business groups warn that it could harm the country’s economic success.

ZURICH, Switzerland: An opinion poll on May 8 showed that Swiss voters are split down the middle on backing a referendum proposal to restrict Switzerland's population to 10 million.

The Swiss government opposes a proposal supported by the Swiss People's Party (SVP) that will be voted on June 14. It says the plan could harm cooperation with the European Union, Switzerland's main trading partner, and damage the economy.

The proposal says Switzerland's population should not exceed 10 million by 2050. It also suggests ending the agreement that allows people to move freely between Switzerland and the EU.

A recent survey by GfS Bern for the public broadcaster SRG found that 47 percent of people support the proposal, 47 percent oppose it, and the rest are undecided. Another poll in late April showed slightly more people in favor.

Worries about fast population growth and pressure on public services drive support for the proposal. However, business groups warn that it could harm the country's economic success.

Switzerland's population has recently passed 9 million, and by 2024, more than 27 percent of residents will be foreign nationals.

The SVP, the country's largest party, opposes closer ties with the EU, arguing that they threaten Switzerland's independence and impose too many rules.

At the same time, Swiss lawmakers are discussing a deal made in late 2024 to strengthen economic ties with the EU.

The government wants closer cooperation to protect the economy, especially after trade tensions increased under Donald Trump, whose policies led the U.S. to impose high tariffs on Switzerland in 2025.