The news magazine cited dissent across the Middle East that has spread to Europe and the United States and said these protesters are reshaping global politics.
The selection was announced Wednesday on NBC’s “The Today Show.”
Time’s “Person of the Year” is the person or thing that the magazine feels has most influenced the culture and the news during the past year, for good or for ill.
Time said it is recognizing protesters because they are “redefining people power” around the world.
Last year, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg got the honor.
US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke received the honor in 2009. The 2008 winner was then-President-elect Barack Obama. Other previous winners have included Bono, President George W. Bush and Amazon.com CEO and founder Jeff Bezos.
