Population limit of 10 million? Switzerland plans to hold a referendum on population restrictions.

Switzerland will hold a national referendum in June on a proposal to restrict the population, to decide whether to take control measures when the population reaches 10 million. According to the report by the American Cable News Network on the 13th, this proposal was put forward by the Swiss People's Party, the right-wing party with the most seats in the Federal Parliament of Switzerland, and is scheduled to be voted on on June 14. The proposal requires the enactment of relevant laws to stipulate that the permanent resident population of Switzerland, including Swiss citizens and foreigners with residence permits, must not exceed 10 million before 2050. If the population reaches 9.5 million before that, the government should take measures to restrict population growth, such as limiting the issuance of documents like asylum, family reunification, and residence permits, and renegotiating international agreements. Once the population reaches 10 million, the government must terminate the agreement on the free movement of persons with the European Union. The Swiss People's Party believes that the "population explosion" Switzerland is experiencing is putting pressure on public services, infrastructure, and causing rent increases. This proposal aims to protect the environment, natural resources, infrastructure, and the social safety net from the pressure of population growth. Critics say that this proposal oversimplifies complex issues. Firstly, foreign workers are essential for the development of Switzerland, as they are a key force in hospitals, hotels, construction sites, and universities. Additionally, Switzerland is also a member of the Schengen Area, and restricting the free movement of people from other countries would violate existing international commitments. According to the Schengen Agreement, there are no border checks between Schengen countries, and people can move freely between them. According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, as of the end of the third quarter of 2025, the population of Switzerland was 9.1 million, with nearly one-third of the population born overseas, mainly from EU countries.