diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/uvectr32.cpp b/icu4c/source/common/uvectr32.cpp
index a77ecb689fd..2b4d0b8a75a 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/uvectr32.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/uvectr32.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ void UVector32::assign(const UVector32& other, UErrorCode &ec) {
 }
 
 
-bool UVector32::operator==(const UVector32& other) {
+bool UVector32::operator==(const UVector32& other) const {
     int32_t i;
     if (count != other.count) return false;
     for (i=0; i<count; ++i) {
diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/uvectr32.h b/icu4c/source/common/uvectr32.h
index f08c2ade765..ecefb7af3ea 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/uvectr32.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/uvectr32.h
@@ -86,12 +86,12 @@ public:
      * equal if they are of the same size and all elements are equal,
      * as compared using this object's comparer.
      */
-    bool operator==(const UVector32& other);
+    bool operator==(const UVector32& other) const;
 
     /**
      * Equivalent to !operator==()
      */
-    inline bool operator!=(const UVector32& other);
+    inline bool operator!=(const UVector32& other) const;
 
     //------------------------------------------------------------
     // java.util.Vector API
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ inline int32_t UVector32::lastElementi(void) const {
     return elementAti(count-1);
 }
 
-inline bool UVector32::operator!=(const UVector32& other) {
+inline bool UVector32::operator!=(const UVector32& other) const {
     return !operator==(other);
 }