Swiss Voters to Decide on Proposal to Cap Population at 10 Million

Swiss voters will decide Sunday on a national referendum to cap the country's population at 10 million in coming decades. The measure is backed by the populist Swiss People's Party.

Switzerland's population has grown 23 percent since 2002, reaching 9.1 million at the end of last year. Government data show economic output rose 24 percent over the same period. Supporters argue that infrastructure, housing, and social programs are under strain.

The federal government and Parliament oppose the measure. A leading business association called it an absurd proposal that threatens security and prosperity. A professor of international economics at the University of St. Gallen said Switzerland is the victim of its own success.

Critics note that foreign-born residents make up 32 percent of the population and that many sectors rely on workers from abroad. A political science professor at the University of Geneva said passage would strain ties with Brussels and cloud prospects for foreign investment.