Switzerland will hold a national referendum on 14 June 2026 on a proposal to cap its population at 10 million, following a petition led by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP).
The so-called “sustainability initiative” aims to restrict immigration once the population limit is reached. Both the Swiss federal government and parliament oppose the proposal, but polling in December indicated support from roughly 48% of voters.
Switzerland’s population has grown by about 70% since 1960, reaching 9.1 million, driven largely by labour demand and high living standards. Supporters argue population growth is straining housing, infrastructure and public services.
Critics warn the policy could undermine Switzerland’s free movement agreement with the European Union, potentially limiting access to foreign workers and affecting trade ties with the EU single market.
Stefan Legge, professor at the University of St Gallen, said stagnant GDP per capita and falling real wages have contributed to public dissatisfaction.
ℹ️ Bloomberg
Follow on social media TikTok@tut0ughInstagram@tut0ugh Threads@tut0ugh X@tut0ugh YouTube@tut0ugh
tut0ugh 