A French-speaking community, its earlier German name of Geiningen is no longer in common use.

[4] As of 2009[update] Chénens has an area of 4 square kilometers (1.5 sq mi).

The rest of the region 0.4 km2 (0.15 sq mi) or 10.1% is settled (buildings or roads).

[5] The municipality is located in the Sarine district on the cantonal highway between Fribourg and Romont (FR).

The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Gules a Mastiff Argent passant gorged Or.

[9] Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks French (520 or 93.9%) as their first language, German is the second most common (21 or 3.8%) and Portuguese is the third (5 or 0.9%).

[9] The historical population is given in the following chart:[4][13] In the 2011 federal election the most popular party was the SPS which received 32.1% of the vote.

[9] There were 283 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 44.5% of the workforce.

In the tertiary sector; 29 or 58.0% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 2 or 4.0% were in the movement and storage of goods, 12 or 24.0% were in a hotel or restaurant, 3 or 6.0% were in education.

[9] From the 2000 census[update], 477 or 86.1% were Roman Catholic, while 24 or 4.3% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.

This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude.

The upper Secondary school is divided into gymnasium (university preparatory) and vocational programs.

After they finish the upper Secondary program, students may choose to attend a Tertiary school or continue their apprenticeship.