This study investigates the disparities between national demographic objectives and fertility levels in the hill areas of Manipur. A community-based, cross-sectional survey involving 1071 ever-married women from the Chandel Hill District of Manipur was conducted using a cluster sampling design between March 2018 and April 2019. Utilizing binary logistic regression, the study examines four primary factors contributing to the failure to achieve the national replacement fertility goal of a total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1. Findings reveal that the current fertility rate of 3.3 is influenced significantly by early age at marriage (P<0.01), sex of 2nd birth (P<0.05), and low levels of female education, highlighting the pivotal role of these factors in hindering the attainment of national fertility objectives.