Switzerland’s 10-million vote: How much immigration can Switzerland take?
24.04.2026 – Theodora Peter and Susanne Wenger
Never before have so many people lived in Switzerland. A flourishing economy makes our country a popular destination for immigrants. This brings prosperity, but problems too. Will Switzerland, a small country, soon be too full?
Over nine million people now live in Switzerland, three times more than at the beginning of the 20th century. A high birth rate fuelled rapid population growth in the post-war years; high immigration has had the same effect since the turn of the millennium. Since 2002, people from countries in the European Economic Area have been able to take up employment and settle with their families in Switzerland. The principle of free movement of people between the European Union (EU) and Switzerland also allows Swiss to work and settle in the EU. Over 530,000 Swiss Abroad currently live in European countries.
Opening up the labour market has led to a significant influx of migrants into Switzerland. Since the start of the 2000s, the Swiss population has grown by two million to its present figure of over nine million. Some 2.4 million people – or around 26 per cent of the total population – now live in Switzerland without a Swiss passport. Two thirds of this contingent come from European countries, particularly Italy, Germany, Portugal and France.
Population of ten million expected by 2040
According to Federal Statistical Office (FSO) forecasts, Switzerland’s resident population is likely to reach ten million by 2040 and 10.5 million by 2055, if immigration continues at current levels. With the number of people retiring set to exceed the number of people entering the workforce in the coming years, fresh labour will be needed to keep the Swiss economy going. Immigration slows demographic ageing, but it cannot stop it completely. The over-65s today account for about 20 per cent of the total population. This proportion will have risen to 25 per cent by 2055.
Apart from keeping the economy afloat, migrant workers pay taxes and help to fund the state pension. Yet there is disquiet about the population growing so quickly. Switzerland is overcrowded, say critics. The impact of an expanding population is mainly felt in urban areas, where housing is becoming increasingly scarce. Around two thirds of Switzerland’s inhabitants live in the densely populated Central Plateau region between Lake Geneva and Lake Constance, where the roads are gridlocked and the trains, buses and trams full to bursting at rush hour. Politicians are aware of this: the Federal Council plans to invest over 40 billion Swiss francs in the transport network by 2045.
SVP initiative to limit Swiss population
The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) believes that population growth has gone too far, calling it “uncontrolled”. Its “No to a Switzerland of 10 million” initiative, also known as the sustainability initiative, will be put to voters on 14 June. Specifically, the SVP proposes a constitutional amendment to the effect that Switzerland’s permanent resident population may not exceed ten million before 2050, whereby the government would have to take measures to curb migration once the population reached the 9.5-million threshold – a possible scenario even within the next five to ten years, based on FSO forecasts. In tabling the initiative, the SVP ultimately wants Switzerland’s agreement with the EU on the free movement of people to be terminated – which is what would happen if the government was unable to “negotiate or invoke any exemption or protection clauses” in the event of the threshold being exceeded.
In tabling the initiative, the SVP ultimately wants an end to free movement between Switzerland and the EU.
The Swiss electorate rejected a proposal to scrap free movement six years ago, with around 57 per cent voting no to the SVP’s “For moderate immigration” initiative in 2020. Yet the anti-immigration SVP managed to win at the ballot box back in 2014, when a narrow majority of voters – 50.3 per cent – narrowly endorsed the “Against mass immigration” initiative. However, the quotas to which foreign workers would have been subject were not introduced, because the government and parliament did not want to risk a breakdown in relations with the EU. The stated alternative was to do more to exploit the potential of Switzerland’s domestic workforce.
Sensitive juncture in Swiss-EU relations
The SVP’s latest initiative once again endangers Switzerland’s bilateral agreements with the EU, says the government. Terminating the agreement on free movement would also invalidate the other treaties, while Swiss living in the EU could face negative consequences if their right of residence is tied to free movement.
The Federal Council and a majority in parliament as well as industry groups and trade unions reject the “radical” initiative, which, its opponents say, jeopardises jobs and prosperity in Switzerland. The government concedes that immigration and a growing population pose “challenges” for Switzerland – not least on the housing market, which is why additional public money has been earmarked for the construction of affordable homes.
The 14 June vote is a pivotal test of public sentiment regarding the Swiss-EU bilateral agreements.
The 14 June vote comes at a sensitive juncture in Swiss-EU relations. This March, the Federal Council and the European Commission put pen to paper on a new package of agreements that were agreed by both sides after protracted talks (see “Swiss Review” 2/2025). This package updates and expands the existing bilateral treaties. It also includes a safeguard clause that will allow Switzerland to limit immigration if “serious economic or social problems” arise. Details of when and how this clause would be triggered are still unclear and likely to be up for debate. Parliament still has to ratify the new treaties, after which voters are expected to give their verdict in 2028.
Focus | Switzerland’s 10-million vote
Never before have so many people lived in Switzerland. A flourishing economy makes our country a popular destination for immigrants. This brings prosperity, but problems too.
– Part 1: How much immigration can Switzerland take?
– Part 2: The economy relies heavily on foreign Workers
including the personal account of someone who came and then left
– Part 3: The housing conundrum
Comments
Comments :
Die Kampagne gegen Einwanderung ist falsch. Es geht nicht um qualifizierte Einwanderung. Die brauchen wir in der Schweiz. Was wir nicht brauchen sind Flüchtlinge, die in die Schweiz kommen und keinen sozialen Beitrag leisten. Das sollte klargestellt werden. Ich bin ausgewandert 1969. Besuchte die Schweiz 2023. Muss ganz ehrlich sagen: Ich kenne meine Schweiz nicht mehr. Ich hoffe, bei der Abstimmung wird das klargemacht und ehrlich diskutiert, was die Schweiz in Zukunft möchte. Herzliche Grüße aus Afrika
Diese Zahlen sprechen für sich:
Land Einwohner Fläche km2 Einwohner/km2
Mio
Ungarn 9,539 93‘036 103
Österreich 9,197 83‘883 110
Schweiz 9,104 41‘291 220
(Quelle: Wikipedia)
Die Debatte über die 10 Mill Grenze erscheint fast wie Spott und Hohn! Gäbe es 20 Mill Mietwohnungen im Land und eine Maximale Bevölkerungsdichte von 100 Personen (wohnhaft) auf einem Quadratkilometer würde es kaum eine Rolle spielen wieviele Leute in der Schweiz leben. Gäbe es genug Arbeit für alle, genügend Platz in öffentlichen Sport- und Freizeit-Anlagen wäre alles wunderbar - egal wieviele Leute da sind. Eine solche Situation hat aber seit den 90er-Jahren schrittweise aufgehört zu existieren - nur dass keiner der Verantwortlichen Augen oder Ohren dafür hatten!
Rettet die Schweiz, nicht mit leeren Wünschen für eine Zukunft, sondern mit Taten die schon längst hätten erledigt werden müssen. Dabei geht es nicht nur um die Bevölkerungszahl, sondern auch darum, dass die Verantwortlichen den Trägern der Gesellschaft (die Arbeiter- und Mittelklasse) ein System, ein Land bieten können das Arbeit sich finanziell wieder lohnt (weil Wohnungen, Krankenkasse und vieles mehr, sowie die Kostenexplosion eines überwuchernden politischen Verwaltungsapparates wieder schmerzfrei und erschwinglich wurden)!
I firmly belief in the preservation of the prevailing culture in Switzerland and as such limiting the population growth to 10 million is very appropriate. Despite the fact that Switzerland needs foreign workers limiting immigration is self-sustaining, but it may mean that some residence will have to work in jobs that may not suit their etiquette or niveous.
I say this, as we here in Australia are at this very crossroad with an immigration toll of about 1.6 million since the election of Labor in 2022 and a housing shortage with rents and property values exceeding the means for a lot of young people and further are plagued with beliefs and values and crimes that we are not a custom to. Unless you want to make your situation in Switzerland worse, vote Yes to limiting immigration.
Keep Switzerland for the Swiss.
After traveling and living in USA, France, UK, Japan, Glarus (CH), Australia, Colombia, Canada, etc etc. Unchecked migration is HORRIBLE... Places with social programs paid for by the local people and culture, are always stressed by the longer living aging retired, that weren't anticipated by govt 50 years prior, when the taxes were collected, and multiple bunches of politicans have come in and gone, spending money that's been saved for the current elderly. Influxing 1000s or millions of non skilled social program leeches will simply destroy the delicate monetary balance of money awaiting those creeping towards retirement. 1'000'000 (over 10%) with no control of their own reproduction, will balloon to 3'000'000 within 3 to 5 years... all with open mouths... no skills... no Swiss culture... no work ethics... no allegiance to Swiss history or independence or individuality. If Switzerland wants to have fresh influx of new people, offer a 100'000 franc visa for 5 years. They must prove they have a desired skill... educational level. For families 100 for primary, 25 for each additional entry. With set plan to buy property. Engage in beneficial business that brings more wealth to Switzerland, tech, tourism, engineering, etc. After 5 years, they can apply for citizenship with test of history, culture, basic comprehension of one of the 4 language along with English to communicate amongst all. The Swiss passport is one of the most poweful in the world. Understand this! Honor those Swiss that fought to create the heaven that is 9'000'000 of Switzerland.
Sorry, Hansjoerg, but you are wrong in regard to reproduction. Switzerland has a birth rate of 1.29, way below the 2.1 needed to maintain the population. Immigrants have a birth rate slightly higher than Swiss citizens, but with an average of 1.5 to 1.6 children per woman, it is still below 2.1. Therefore, you can't blame immigrants for the population growth. It is the fact, that our neo-liberal capitalism only works with population growth, otherwise the increase in standard of living is jeopardized. As long as the definition for "wealth" is material prosperity, the population will keep growing.
The other topic you are wrong is the education level of immigrants. Most are brought into the country because there are no Swiss citizen doing their work. For decades, Switzerland has not been educating enough Physicians and nurses in the medical field, not enough engineers and scientists in technology and research, not enough skilled workers in manufacturing and construction, etc. These are all demanding professions, and it looks like Swiss citizens are not willing to take on these challenges. It is so much easier to gratuate with a degree in business or accounting - I know, I have both, a degree in Engineering and a MBA.