Muenster, Germany - The majority of Germans believe that their country cannot cope with more refugees after the 890,000-strong influx of 2015, according to a survey conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation.

Fifty-four per cent of respondents said that Germany has reached a limit in terms of how many migrants it can take in. Two years ago, the same survey showed 40 per cent of Germans holding this opinion.

Numbers of migrants seeking asylum across EU member states

"Many think a breaking point has been reached - the willingness to take in more refugees has diminished significantly," the foundation said in its report.

The survey shows that Germans are still welcoming towards refugees in principle. Seventy per cent of respondents said they are open towards immigrants, but only 59 per cent said they were open towards refugees.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to open Germany's borders to refugees in 2015 has come under fire at home and prompted a rise in support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.