Based on the June comScore Media Metrix worldwide figures, hi5 grew 79% in the first half of 2008 – more than twice the growth rate of any of the top 10 social networks. According to comScore, the popular site’s monthly unique visitors increased from 31.4 million in December 2007 to 56.4 million in June 2008 – an increase of 25 million monthly visitors.

hi5, with its huge international user base, has nearly 20 million more unique visitors per month than other comparable sites in the social networking category, including Orkut, Bebo, and Friendster.

The June numbers firmly establish hi5 as the company to watch in the social networking category. According to comScore, Facebook and MySpace increased 35% and 10%, respectively, over the same time period.

“These latest numbers from comScore demonstrate the incredible growth hi5 has had in the first six months of this year,” said Ramu Yalamanchi, CEO of hi5. “Our success is really testament to the team’s execution, as well as the tremendous opportunity in the international social networking segment, which we’ve targeted from the beginning.”

With over 80% of its users outside the US, hi5 has pursued a very distinct and successful strategy for winning international markets. Rather than a generic approach, hi5 delivers a more localized, culturally-relevant social networking experience.