Given the facts and the additional forecast information provided, we can deduce a precise population number for Canada by January 1, 2025, accounting for the variables and trends outlined. First, it's important to reemphasize and summarize key points from the provided data: 1. **Immigration as the Primary Growth Driver:** The consistent emphasis on immigration, both temporary and permanent, [1, 2, 3, 4] as the primary driver of Canada's population growth aligns with the high targets set by the Canadian government. 2. **Growth Trends and Projections:** The statistical model projections show a steady increase in Canada’s population, reaching 41.6 million at the end of Q4 2024 [AF2]. Considering this information alone would imply an addition of approximately 0.8 million people over the course of the year 2024, starting from the projected 40.8 million at the end of Q1 2024 [AF1]. 3. **Previous Year's Growth:** The +3.2% growth rate in 2023 equalled a population increase of approximately 1.27 million people [5]. If we consider this past growth rate as a reference and account for the government's aim to increase immigration further, the growth rate for 2024 might at least match, if not exceed, the growth observed in 2023 given the trend towards increasing immigration. 4. **Interactive Effects of Migration and Natural Increase:** While immigration will likely continue to drive the majority of the growth, the natural increase (births minus deaths) is expected to play a minor but steady role, despite the record low fertility rate [6, 7]. However, this aspect contributes a relatively small portion to the overall growth rate. Given these considerations, the forecast for Canada's population by January 1, 2025, integrates the impact of the steady immigration policy targeting an increase, the historical growth rate experienced in 2023, the statistical model's projection for the end of 2024, and the continuing trend of immigration as the primary growth driver. We should consider any potential variability in the rate of immigration and natural increase, but given the consistent policy focus on immigration and no indicated drastic changes in fertility or mortality rates, we can project that the pattern of growth will likely continue in a similar trajectory to that observed in 2023. Considering a potential slight increase in the growth rate due to the Canadian government’s active immigration targets and given the projection for the end of 2024, it is reasonable to project the population to be somewhat higher than the 41.6 million by the end of Q4 2024, given a full year for these policies and trends to further influence population growth into the start of 2025. However, without numerical data predicting an exact increase, aligning strictly with the projection at the end of 2024 seems most prudent. Therefore, based solely on the facts and the provided forecasts, without an explicit fact directly indicating the growth from end of 2024 to the start of 2025, it is most accurate to align with the forecast provided for the end of 2024: Canada will have a population of 41.6 million people by January 1, 2025. [AF2] Sources: 1 :: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240327/dq240327c-eng.htm 2 :: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240327/dq240327c-eng.htm 3 :: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240327/dq240327c-eng.htm 4 :: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240327/dq240327c-eng.htm 5 :: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240327/dq240327c-eng.htm 6 :: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240327/dq240327c-eng.htm 7 :: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240327/dq240327c-eng.htm