Switzerland, one of the richest countries in the world and historically open to immigration and foreign investment, votes this Sunday (14) in a referendum that could impose a limit on population growth and tighten immigration rules.
The consultation comes after the Swiss population grew by around 10% in the last decade and exceeded 9.1 million inhabitants at the end of 2025. For the first time, the country now has more people over 65 than young people under 20. The information is from CNBC.
Under the proposal, the government would be obliged to adopt measures to contain population growth until 2050. If the population exceeds 9.5 million inhabitants during this period, immigration rules would be tightened, with initial restrictions on asylum and family reunification programs. If the number of residents exceeds 10 million, the initiative even foresees the end of the free movement of people agreement between Switzerland and the European Union.
Currently, around 41% of the Swiss population has a migrant background, while a third of permanent residents were born abroad. It is estimated that 1.4 million European Union citizens live in Switzerland, in addition to another 340,000 workers who cross the border every day to work in the country.
Opinion polls indicate a divided scenario. A recent survey showed that 52% of those interviewed intend to reject the proposal, while 45% support the creation of the population limit.
The right-wing SVP party, the main supporter of the initiative, claims that rapid population growth puts pressure on public services, increases rent prices and makes access to the job market difficult.
Companies and business entities warn of the economic risks of the measure. The Economiesuisse association, which brings together large companies such as Amazon Web Services, Roche, Google and Johnson & Johnson, states that Swiss prosperity depends on economic openness and access to qualified labor from Europe.
Executives from large companies also expressed concern. Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil stated that Switzerland’s attractiveness for investment is directly linked to regulatory stability and the availability of talent. The president of UBS, Sergio Ermotti, said that limiting immigration would not solve the challenges faced by the country.
Economists also warn that a possible end to free movement with the European Union could generate a shortage of workers, increase costs for companies and compromise the competitiveness of the Swiss economy. There is also fear that the measure will affect bilateral agreements that guarantee the country’s companies privileged access to the European market.
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