A majority of Swiss voters now support a controversial ballot initiative to cap Switzerland's population at 10 million, according to a new poll, reflecting rising anxiety over immigration in one of Europe's wealthiest and traditionally most open societies.
The survey, conducted by research firm gfs.bern, found that 53% of respondents back the "Ecopop" initiative, which would constitutionally limit Switzerland's population and restrict net immigration once the 10 million threshold is reached. The Alpine nation currently has approximately 9.1 million residents, meaning the cap would take effect within the next decade at current growth rates.
The initiative represents the latest manifestation of a broader European trend toward immigration restriction, even in countries that have historically embraced openness. Denmark has implemented stringent asylum policies, the Netherlands recently elected a government pledged to reduce immigration by 50%, and right-wing parties across the continent have gained ground on anti-immigration platforms.
Switzerland's case is particularly notable given its economic dependence on foreign labor. Approximately 27% of the Swiss population is foreign-born, and sectors from banking to hospitality rely heavily on cross-border workers from neighboring France, Germany, and Italy. Business groups have warned that a hard population cap could create severe labor shortages and undermine Swiss competitiveness.
"This is economically illiterate," said Jan-Egbert Sturm, director of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute. "Switzerland's prosperity depends on attracting skilled workers. A constitutional cap would be catastrophic for growth."
Yet supporters argue the initiative is necessary to preserve Swiss quality of life. They point to rising housing costs, traffic congestion, and strain on infrastructure as evidence that unchecked population growth is unsustainable. The debate cuts across traditional political lines, with some environmentalists supporting restrictions on demographic grounds while free-market conservatives oppose them as economically damaging.
