Forbes magazine has named Russian President Vladimir Putin as the world's most powerful person.

“Putin continues to prove he’s one of the few men in the world powerful enough to do what he wants — and get away with it,” the financial magazine’s editors said Wednesday.

The top people on the list included Germany's Angela Merkel, President Obama, the Pope and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

President Obama has moved down to third place, from the second slot in 2014.

“There’s no doubt that the United States remains the world’s greatest economic, cultural, diplomatic, technological and military power,” according to Forbes.

“But as Obama enters the final year of his presidency, it’s clear his influence is shrinking, and it’s a bigger struggle than ever to get things done.”

The New York Post writes that Forbes selected Putin for his "ability to flout US and world dictates and get away with it — whether it be Russia’s continued involvement in Ukraine or support for despised Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad."