The majority of Swiss citizens opposed the introduction of a population limit for the country. In the recent referendum, 54% of voters rejected the proposal to set a maximum cap of 10 million residents, while 46% supported the initiative, [reports](https://nos.nl/artikel/2618521-meerderheid-zwitsers-stemt-tegen-maximumaantal-inwoners) NOS. Residents were asked to decide whether to legally limit population growth. Despite nearly all major political parties opposing this measure, polls leading up to the vote indicated that the contest could be quite close. Switzerland is among the fastest-growing countries in Europe. Labor migration plays a significant role in the population increase. Currently, about 9.1 million people live in the country, and forecasts suggest that by 2035, the population could reach 10 million. The initiative for the referendum came from the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP). Its representatives stated that they aim to prevent a "demographic explosion," which they believe could lead to overburdening transportation and social infrastructure, as well as worsening the housing market situation. "We want to keep Switzerland the way we love to see it — a comfortable place to live," said party representative Ivan Poud before the vote. According to him, excessively high migration rates could result in the country being unable to effectively integrate new residents. SVP has previously initiated high-profile referendums on migration and integration issues. In particular, the Swiss have already voted on banning the wearing of burqas and the construction of minarets. Experts note that the population growth is particularly noticeable in the country's major cities. Meanwhile, the idea of limiting the number of residents received the most support in rural areas of the German-speaking part of Switzerland. The voting results showed that the majority of Swiss citizens do not currently consider it necessary to impose strict limits on population growth. Nevertheless, the topics of migration and demographic changes remain among the most discussed in Swiss politics.